tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20045713553077950102015-09-16T16:59:14.107-07:00Liam and Linda in CornwallThis is a blog about our new life living down here in Cornwall. We walked the South West coast path over two months in summer 2011 and had moved down to live in Cornwall eight weeks later. I think it was us who were the most surprisedLiam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-68245834441745451352014-06-02T07:06:00.002-07:002014-06-02T07:08:56.661-07:00Chapter Ninety Two.There seems to be a real mixed bag of weather around at the moment although it is basically warm and dry. It would be a braver man than me to not be prepared though. I am still carrying all my waterproofs, plus my fleece, plus anything else that would protect me on delivery. I am slowly going as brown as a berry at work, but it is not all down to the sun. Its amazing just how brown you can become because of the wind blowing against you. I look very fit and tanned...although looks can be deceiving.<br />We had a day out at St Mawes the other Sunday. I took Linda for a visit around the castle. It is hard to find a more magical castle in Cornwall and it could easily be lived in. Defensible it is not, but dependable it is. It stands proudly opposite Pendennis Castle and is a real favourite of mine. A veteran of several wars including both world wars, it is a fascinating place for a look around. Its main claim to fame is that it was built to protect England from the Spanish...and they never took it. Unlike the much larger and much stronger Pendennis opposite, which was taken a couple of times.<br />One up to St Mawes over Falmouth I think.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2VroLs3mn4/U4x0POLFa0I/AAAAAAAABDI/CH4ubFJw0pM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V2VroLs3mn4/U4x0POLFa0I/AAAAAAAABDI/CH4ubFJw0pM/s1600/002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />We spent the rest of the day just lying and sitting quietly on Carne Beach. It was very hot and sunny and both of us got a little burnt by the sun. It would have been worse without the old factor 15 on both of us. I found last year that my skin dried out very quickly last year due to the sunshine and the wind. This year I have taken Linda's advice and not only do I drink more water, I also moisturise in the morning. Don't mock it...it works. I've never felt or looked so well as I do at the moment.<br />Work has been quite busy with all the election material, but that election has now been and gone. UKIP seemed to take the lions share of the vote around the country and have had very good support in the South West; the Green party did well too.<br />The other party who did well were all the postman who managed to 'trouser' a good few pounds from delivering this old election stuff. They can call an election every couple of months if they like.<br />Linda is still typically working very hard. She is working long hours at her job and her idea of relaxation is to do lots of work at home and up at the allotment. I do understand the premise that she enjoys these other things and gets great pleasure from them. I also understand how she doesn't think of it as work when she is busy doing loads of personal tasks for herself. But I do feel that, for a good work/life balance, there has to be time when you just sit down and rest your body. I fear something will give if she doesn't find this balance...and she doesn't find it quickly.<br />Having said that; I was very pleased for her when she became the secretary of her Samba Band. She is now enjoying herself by organising things and I know she enjoys that.<br />We are looking after Magic at the moment. He is the cat that lives with Gary and Jeanette next door. They are in France for a couple of weeks and I have become as much his servant now as Linda is the servant of two guinea pigs and countless wild birds.<br />I go across the garden to their house twice a day and feed his lordship a fresh sachet of cat food. If he condescends to be generous, he permits me to stroke him and scratch him behind the ears. We get on though and he is a lovely cat. We both work hard in the great war against the rat. He has caught some and got rid of them that way. However I am not sharing the credit of one of them. I shot and killed it. Magic coming into our garden; picking its body up and carrying it around to his back door; and then looking smug as if he caught the thing himself;...not on!!!<br />We had a nice bank holiday weekend last week, but as usual, Linda had to work it. It does upset her as it eats into our time together.<br />The same has happened this weekend with it being my long weekend off. Linda had Saturday and Sunday off, but had to go to work on Monday. Unusually, I had overtime Saturday and so I worked that day, but I had Sunday and Monday off. Typical isn't it. As you can guess...we made the most of Sunday.<br />We drove over to the Lizard and had a good walk around the place. We parked up in the village and, after a coffee, walked down the path to the coast path. We came out halfway between Kynance Cove and Lizard Point.<br />We turned left there and walked around the coastpath until we came to Cadgwith. It was good to see that the Chough's have fledged and flown away from the old Lifeboat station at the point.<br />We also saw the island known as Mulvin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0LxcQul6ks/U4x297xeJiI/AAAAAAAABDs/uI3uwj4TfY8/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b0LxcQul6ks/U4x297xeJiI/AAAAAAAABDs/uI3uwj4TfY8/s1600/002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />God knows how it got our name.<br />Linda and I were stood up on the clifftops and she is pointing at the Island of Mulvin. It is the larger of the three. Rumour has it that somebody sold it to an ancestor of mine when the tide was out; like now...because when the tide comes in its about the size of a dustbin. We may have been diddled here ha ha. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MmD6ly32Jk/U4x0Y1P8_VI/AAAAAAAABDQ/phR0PgL3qGo/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MmD6ly32Jk/U4x0Y1P8_VI/AAAAAAAABDQ/phR0PgL3qGo/s1600/021.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />We then had a drink at Cadgwith before setting off across country towards Kynance. We had the drink at Cadgwith to remember an old friend of ours, Bernie Cooper. He was a work colleague and friend of both Linda and I. Like Lin, he to was bitten by the old Black Dog on more than one occassion. Depression is a cruel trick and he suffered with it, and usually alone. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAufXBZi-bI/U4x7HAfq_HI/AAAAAAAABD4/5TWGJ9jdK3I/s1600/Bernie+Cooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TAufXBZi-bI/U4x7HAfq_HI/AAAAAAAABD4/5TWGJ9jdK3I/s1600/Bernie+Cooper.jpg" height="640" width="608" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;He had a good sense of humour on him as this picture will testify. Nobody knows more than me the stressful nature of working in that cage he's standing in. He should never have been put in there. This photo used to be put up on the door when he was struggling with his work. He was a good lad though and we were all sorry when he got bitten by a bigger and different dog from which it is very hard to survive. Sadly our old friend passed away the other day, and Wheelie organised a 'raise a glass for Bernie' through photos on facebook.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kCQJpPObgYk/U4x0eDeeg_I/AAAAAAAABDY/UzjoU6sCtL0/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kCQJpPObgYk/U4x0eDeeg_I/AAAAAAAABDY/UzjoU6sCtL0/s1600/023.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>This was ours to an old pal. We both wish there could have been a third glass on the table Bernie with you there to share it. We chose Cadgwith and the Lizard as it is a favourite spot of ours and somewhere we will go back to again and again. We miss you but won't forget you.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qxs6Ft4Gd8/U4x0g3NS5RI/AAAAAAAABDg/Iw93DCB4lb4/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6qxs6Ft4Gd8/U4x0g3NS5RI/AAAAAAAABDg/Iw93DCB4lb4/s1600/022.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />On the way we stopped off at a lovely old church at a place called 'Grade'. A lovely old 13th C church but beginning to show its years. If I ever win the lottery, I swear I shall help that place benefit from a bit of cash. It is lovely.<br />After leaving there, we walked across the common and got to Kynance just in time for a cup of tea before the cafe closed.<br />Fortified we made our way back along the coast to Lizard village and finished the day off with a bag of chips each. It really was a perfect day.<br />I am waiting now for two old friends of mine to appear. They are on holiday in England from Australia. We have not seen each other for nearly fifty years; certainly 48 years anyway.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OxV2aUGV9w/U4x0CbIZzEI/AAAAAAAABDA/AGAFPf4O5Rk/s1600/Malcolm+and+Maureen+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3OxV2aUGV9w/U4x0CbIZzEI/AAAAAAAABDA/AGAFPf4O5Rk/s1600/Malcolm+and+Maureen+2014.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div><br />They are a brother and sister, Malcolm and Maureen Shackleton, who used to live along the road from us. Their mum and dad were lovely people and I loved going around there. Ted and Elsie have died; Elsie very recently; and so only my mum is left of that generation from Tilford Road. It'll be good to see them.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-23552030388178016772014-05-17T22:49:00.001-07:002014-05-17T22:49:26.198-07:00Chapter Ninety OneA quiet couple of weeks behind us at the moment. The weather has been very mixed although it is warmer than of late. We have had some amazing sunny days, but also days were the wind would cut you in two. Linda is working very hard and is settling into a pattern with her job. She has her regular people to see and is making friends all over the Roseland.<br />The nicest thing for both of us is that we keep bumping into each other when out at work. Its nice to meet up for a few moments during the day and just be with each other. Especially if we are stood overlooking the sea. We met up the other day in St Mawes on the quay. It was lovely having a few minutes chat while we watched the fishing boats going out and saw the ferry coming in.<br />We both know just how lucky we are.<br />Linda is at her busiest at this time of the year with much work going on in the garden and at the allotment. Trays of plants are coming out of the greenhouse on an industrial scale. Some are flowers and plants for the garden, and the rest are vegetables and potatos for the allotment.<br />I wish I could do more to help, but it doesn't take much to put my back out these days. I keep getting lower back pain, especially after doing something stupid like a bit of digging, or a bit of lifting. Its not incapacitating or anything...its just sore for days after.<br />Where I can help out though, I do. So I mow the lawns and allotment grass; I fill the buckets and watering cans with water; I even put in and tied up all the runner bean poles the other day.&nbsp; <br />Linda's allotment is a great success for her. Nick gave her all the manure she could use and she spread it over the top of the allotment at the beginning of last winter. When you consider how tough the whole allotment had been to dig when she first took it on 18 months ago...the difference now is amazing.<br />The manure has done its job and so has Linda.<br />That first year she dug the whole thing by hand and cleared all the weeds out of it. The ground was hard and full of clay; the weeds well entrenched; and the weather not good at all.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wa_hpTc52bA/U3hHWb8S0mI/AAAAAAAABCQ/2VQXd6zuYTg/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wa_hpTc52bA/U3hHWb8S0mI/AAAAAAAABCQ/2VQXd6zuYTg/s1600/008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;This is as bad as you could let an allotment go. Its the one closest to us but shows what ours looked like a couple of years ago. The next four photos beneath show just how much Linda has achieved and the work that she has put in. It has been amazing and I am so proud of her. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yaRbiL5J7o/U3hHsI2W_BI/AAAAAAAABCw/Fbw81Mim9wU/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yaRbiL5J7o/U3hHsI2W_BI/AAAAAAAABCw/Fbw81Mim9wU/s1600/011.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />From that early start she now has both plots well worked with vast amounts of manure; she has had some weeds return but these have been shallow and very easily removed; And the beds are now more clearly defined and established.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F62DrdUf3Ko/U3hHZenwQlI/AAAAAAAABCY/cYkEX0LBlQc/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F62DrdUf3Ko/U3hHZenwQlI/AAAAAAAABCY/cYkEX0LBlQc/s1600/009.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />She is a typical country girl and is insistant that preperation is key.<br />I joined her the other day and gave the grass its third cut of the year. She has nice neat paths all around both plots and also a decent sized cleared area at the top. Its not the biggest contribution in the world but she is delighted with the way it all looks.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3g3Q3QJU0E/U3hHfKbOB1I/AAAAAAAABCg/AJUrjbxxHRY/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3g3Q3QJU0E/U3hHfKbOB1I/AAAAAAAABCg/AJUrjbxxHRY/s1600/015.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Meanwhile the plants and the seeds are going into the prepared beds and the whole thing is taking shape. Just like I remember it back in the fifties and early sixties; folk eating food that they grew in their own gardens. Brilliant.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBVoLJsic38/U3hHklQLw4I/AAAAAAAABCo/uL7n4-IqPvc/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBVoLJsic38/U3hHklQLw4I/AAAAAAAABCo/uL7n4-IqPvc/s1600/012.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />My own work has been pretty busy with the election material coming through. All bar one of the main parties have posted election material so that was seven different lots plus the poll cards to deliver. A busy time. I finally got my old van back. She is going well at the moment and I hope it will continue into the distant future. The van and I seem to be slowly wearing out together. Its a coin toss to find out which one will lose a part next.<br />We are no nearer getting a reserve postman out here. The lad who came out here to start the job has been sacked. The last nine in to Truro have all had their contracts terminated during their probationary periods because we had to many people on our books for the work load. Very sad, although not unexpected. As they keep telling us..."We're a business, not a service." It should keep the shareholders happy I suppose.<br />Its not all doom and gloom though, because I have to confess I have never been happier than when I'm out on my round.<br />All else is right in our little world; we have family coming down during the year so that will be good; we are making more of our time here as well and trying to get out more; and we are both having fun with stuff. I have the NCI, plus Poetree and writing;&nbsp; Linda has her Samba Band, plus the garden and allotment; people know who we are; and we are settling in very well.<br />Our local lane edges and banks have been a profusion of wild flowers just lately. I managed to pick Linda a bunch of these just before the grass cutter came through and cleared the side for Health and Safety purposes.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6sBdU733WI/U3hHTIyUmHI/AAAAAAAABCI/7CrIpdsYVfo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6sBdU733WI/U3hHTIyUmHI/AAAAAAAABCI/7CrIpdsYVfo/s1600/001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />We are also part of the front line troops in Ruan Lanihorne in the Great War between The Village...and the Rats. The wretched creatures are moving into the village, as they are over most of Cornwall, in their hunt for food. There is a lot of them about this year in Britain and it seems to tie in with the enforced savings that the councils have had to make.<br />The cut in services such as pest control has had a devastating effect on some places...and don't get me started on the 'pot holes' in the roads. I shall disappear down one any day now, van and all.<br />Anyway; we are at war with the rats. Neighbours are laying down poison which is having a great affect. Gary and Jeanettes cat, 'Magic'; known as 'The Bandit' in some parts of the village due to his antisocial behaviour is also catching and killing some of them.<br />Magic is a great favourite of ours and is very good with Linda and I, plus the guinea pigs. We have no problem with him as I think his view of us is as, lower members of his pride. Jeanette and Gary are his main pride members...but he knows we feed and look after him when they are away.<br />Anyway...he is a good little hunter.<br />I am not so bad myself with my trusty air rifle. Bought back in 1973 for 50 pence off a friend of mine it is now finally getting some useful use. I bought it so long ago, I was able to carry it back home in full view through the streets of Farnham...and nobody said a word. I even walked quite happily past the police station without a problem. Try that today and see how far you would get.<br />What is good news is, my contribution to the war effort is a very useful average of three dead rats a week. We all do our bit.&nbsp; Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-87126745172382980852014-05-05T03:06:00.004-07:002014-05-05T03:06:38.858-07:00Chapter NinetyThe 14th of April saw my last full week working for Royal Mail as a fulltime postman. As of the 21st I go on my new hours of 27 hours and 30 minutes, per week. I can't complain as I never expected to be on full hours at all. The ethos in all businesses today seems to be part time work. Our company works a strict policy of 'costing and savings before everything else'. Again...this is like other businesses.<br />I don't have to like it though...AND I DON'T...but I do have to live in the real world.<br />Anyway; I got a whole eighteen months out of Royal Mail as a full time duty at St Mawes so I did do alright. The change on my duty is that I no longer have to go into Truro and pick the mail up in the morning. This is a saving of two hours for the company a day. I assume the other saving of half an hour a day is because I don't deliver the 'heavy and large' for the other two duties. They have a shared van for all that now.<br />You all know my views though. In 1972 I joined a service industry. It was called that because you were a service and that ethic came first. Now we are no longer a service, we are a business. I don't practice that ethic at all and service still comes first for me. The only difference now is that, I absorb the cost to do it and not Royal Mail.<br />The first week of the new duties was something of a disaster however and it did not go well. For a week we did not get our last lot of mail until between 10-00 and 10-30. You can imagine how late this meant five deliveries were; our three and the two posties at Portscatho; especially as this mail shoul;d have been with us at 09-00. Late finishing and upset all around. The only cheery bunny was me because I got in a good hour or more reading a book outside on the harbour wall.<br />Thankfully, last week went much better and the mail arrived as it should do. Surprisingly; the whole thing is now almost working. We get our mail in good time. I am out on delivery within minutes of 10-00...and I am finishing within minutes either side of my correct finish time.<br />When you think I have spent the last year finishing up to an hour later most days; and was too scared to claim overtime in case I got taken off the duty and returned to half pay; this has been a welcome bonus.<br />The only problem with not claiming and not being seen to be doing...is that nobody has accounted for all the jobs I did that they were not aware of in Truro.<br />Their impression was...He drives in to Truro, he picks up the mail, he leaves, and he drops off the mail on his way back. No accounting has been done for; returning the empty trays, returning the unused D2D's, checking for missorts, doing walksorting, taking out stores as required,etc.<br />Still; all credit to them; they are slowly addressing these things. I'm just niggled that someone must have really thought I was doing very little while in the office.<br />The good news is that my customers are getting their mail earlier than they thought...and that is really all that they seem to want.<br />Linda is working all sorts of strange hours but is really enjoying her work. She comes and goes at all hours and is always busy. If she has a gripe at all, it is that we don't get a lot of time together. She was dashing around the other day and left her calling card in the front of her car.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kx2vnkiaj2g/U2dJd0dfR6I/AAAAAAAABBo/vtYHfrc-7O4/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kx2vnkiaj2g/U2dJd0dfR6I/AAAAAAAABBo/vtYHfrc-7O4/s1600/009.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>In itself this is not a problem at all. The only problem I found was that she left it in the car while it was parked in our drive. It needs no telling as to who people would think the elderly/disabled client should have been.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Kb07daVXZ0/U2dJgOZxkhI/AAAAAAAABBw/M0NOW6qCwiU/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Kb07daVXZ0/U2dJgOZxkhI/AAAAAAAABBw/M0NOW6qCwiU/s1600/010.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>Funnily enough though, we do see a lot of each other when we are both at work. Linda has been given a patch to work on that takes in Portscatho and also St Mawes. There is nothing nicer than being on delivery and having a car pull up nearby; especially when the driver is your wife. It does give us time for a quick chat before we head off again. It is good though.<br />We met on the quayside the other day. The sun was cracking the paving slabs; there was a cooling breeze; seagulls called from the rooftops; and the siren on the ferry was calling out as it left to go to Falmouth. We both stood there looking at the sea and the sand. There are no prizes for guessing that 'YES, we do know how very lucky we are'.<br />We had a busy weekend over the Easter bank Holiday. Needless to say, we both had to work chunks of it. I used Good Friday as a clean-up day at the garage at St Mawes. A rat ran out from under my van last week. So that was it. Several hours later, the accumalation of several years rubbish was bagged and taken home. There was lots of it I must say. The garage is now empty, clean and tidy, and safe to enter.<br />Saturday was spent with me on delivery and Linda doing loads in the garden and the allotment. I was late home as I wanted to get the office ready for the new working arrangements. All now done and two weeks on, the office at St Mawes is an easier place to work in.<br />In the evening we drove over to Gerrans for the pub quiz for our own local NCI at Portscatho. We raised a good sum which will go on the new gazebo we ordered. We shall look very smart at our next 'meet and greet' for the public.<br />Easter Sunday dawned nice and clear, but not an egg in sight. I'll buy my own next year. An hour later it began to rain steadily, and this continued all day. We made two trips to the dump at St Austell and got rid of all the rubbish from the garage and from the house and garden. We did a couple of quick jobs up the allotment and then headed home. Minutes later, Linda got a call from work and ended up doing a four hour shift for the afternoon. When she got home she then put in a few hours doing paperwork and the like for the Samba Band...she is secretary for that.<br />The thing was, not only had we been together for about nine years today...it was also Linda's 49th birthday. She certainly spent it in an unusual fashion.<br />Easter Monday was also a working day for Linda and she spent most of it out and about.<br />It was also the day that Jason and Tracy came down to stay with us for a few days. It was good to see them and we had fun.<br />No sooner had they gone home than disaster struck the family finances. Nothing to do with them I hasten to add. Linda needed two new tyres on the front of her car...and the washing machine gave up the ghost resulting in a new one being bought.<br />Incredibly...I managed to plumb it in on my own and the new one is working perfectly.<br />The guinea pigs have settled down well with each other and seem very happy and contented out there. Linda did change the name of our new one. We couldn't keep calling her 'Penny', as we know to many people of that name. Linda has changed her name to 'Pebbles'.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--dkmel5Vts0/U2dJYBCWTlI/AAAAAAAABBY/d8kMcDBWsvA/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--dkmel5Vts0/U2dJYBCWTlI/AAAAAAAABBY/d8kMcDBWsvA/s1600/004.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Whiskey is on the left of this picture and is the male. Pebbles is on the right and is a much younger female. The main visual difference between them both is that little smudge of white, just above Pebbles' nose. It is easy to see how Widget ate herself to death, when you consider that the two of them now eat that food slowly through the day. Widget used to bolt it all in the first five minutes...and attack Whiskey if he tried for some.<br />I also brought out three old friends of mine and placed them back under the pear tree in the garden. Bayleaf is the one on the left. He is the gardener and is sweeping up the leaves and tidying the lawn. Next to him is Digweed. He also is a gardener and uses his spade to dig weeds up wherever he finds them. The other one is Jasper. He too is a gardener and grows stuff. Like Linda, he is proud of his produce which is why he has a Carrot in his arms.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckDLNK-vmNQ/U2dJao33-mI/AAAAAAAABBg/hkqa4fncuEw/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckDLNK-vmNQ/U2dJao33-mI/AAAAAAAABBg/hkqa4fncuEw/s1600/007.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Just go with my imagination. Linda has too.<br />This last week has run a lot smoother for me. I got overtime which has helped a bit. Linda also went to work on Sunday afternoon...and didn't get home until Monday afternoon. That was a busy weekend for her. She had to stay on a sleepover with a client.<br />I have contacted my pension people and am hopeful all will be in place on my birthday in July. That will be a boost to the old finances and will supplement my pay at St Mawes.<br />I had a little shock as well about becoming sixty in July. I received a letter from the NHS as normal telling me my 'assisted prescription' card will need renewing. So far, so good. They then went on to say that I only had to renew it for three months because when I get to sixty I get FREE prescriptions.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I'm too young to be that old."&nbsp;<br />A pleasant shock...but still a shock. Am I becoming a 'coffin-dodger'. I'm only a boy.<br />I have been up to the allotment twice now this year with Linda to work there. I don't do a great deal because it damages my back and my neck. I can manage the mowing though. Linda has done a smashing job of digging the whole thing over and planting out. It looks fantastic and I know she is pleased with the way things are going.<br />My job is to cut all the grass around the plots and trim all the paths. It may not seem much but Linda is pleased with my efforts. It keeps the weeds down and stops the plants on the edge from being choked. It certainly looks very tidy I must say.<br />The rest of my duties mean I am on call when needed and close by for company. To keep me quiet, Linda is always delighted to allow me the peace to read a book...its a 'win-win' for us both.<br />We have a visitor on the Fal river just above the King Harry Ferry. Back in the bad weather a ship got into difficulties just off the Lizard. The crew were all rescued and the ship saved. Unfortunately, the crew are now back home and our authorities are having problems with the owners over some bill paying. At the moment the poor ship is moored up-river while the arguments continue.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvPCLiSYERw/U2dJkV-xcoI/AAAAAAAABB4/dBo8iBAp92g/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvPCLiSYERw/U2dJkV-xcoI/AAAAAAAABB4/dBo8iBAp92g/s1600/011.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>She is called the 'SEABREEZE'. Poor old girl. She's been in all the papers and on television. She deserves better than this. I got this picture of her when I crossed over the other day from my writing group session.<br />Starting tomorrow now, I am beginning a new part-time job to try and supplement my income. I will be getting up early in the morning and getting some stories and writing done on a more commercial level. I shall try and put in at least three hours each day and hopefully achieve something.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-41249415713894449302014-04-12T22:32:00.000-07:002014-04-12T22:32:07.449-07:00Chapter Eighty NineBack into the blog once more. Its been a bit up and down over the last couple of weeks. Our sad news has been a couple of deaths we could have done without.<br />When Katrina got married, I had the great pleasure to meet up with her grand parents on her dad's side of the family. Both came across as very nice people. Her granddad, John, was a delightful chap who had been a postman at Godalming for most of his working life. He and I got on very well together, and were soon swapping yarns and chatting about our work as postmen always seem to do.<br />Our careers had both overlapped in years although we never worked with each other. Between us both though we had been both working on the post for about the last sixty or seventy years. We chatted away quite happily for a good hour or more and I found him delightful.<br />We only had a brief time together in the great scheme of things but I always wanted to see him again. Sadly, with us now in Cornwall and them down in Sussex, we never met up again. And now John has passed away. Linda and I shall both miss him, and I really wish I had got to know him better.<br />He really was a charming, gentle man. I think he would have loved doing my delivery as much as me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ms8YJx-mnM/U0ofu0JDoJI/AAAAAAAABAo/9A2u20QCLq0/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ms8YJx-mnM/U0ofu0JDoJI/AAAAAAAABAo/9A2u20QCLq0/s1600/008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Talking of postmen, we had a lovely visit for a few hours from Gary Horne and his family. Gary is a mate of mine from Farnham Royal Mail and we worked together for over thirty years. His wife Liz is lovely; far to good for him we all say; ha ha. They popped in for the evening with Francesca and Tod. Two lovely kids; Francesca is delightful and Tod is a typically busy, almost two year old boy. It was a wonderful visit and catch up, both lively and entertaining. It was great to see them.&nbsp; <br />Our other loss is a bit closer to home, and though not on the same level at all, has hit us a little hard. Poor old Widget, our female guinea pig, has died as well. She had an endearing way of whistling at you when she saw you, and both of us miss that as we walk out into the garden.<br />Just lately, she has become something of a voracious eater and has been consuming vast quantities of food. Things got to a head recently as she began to take food off Whiskey as he was trying to eat. Constantly bloated and devouring vast quantities of food she eventually ate herself to death. Like the two medieval kings who died of over eating; one from a 'surfeit of Lampreys', the other on his toilet still stuffing his face with fresh strawberries; she was not well at all.<br />The vet told us she was not going to make it and would never survive an op. He had only one thing to try, but sadly it was all to late. Thankfully, Linda is the most consumate country woman I know, and is both practical and knowledgeable about dealing with things.<br />Linda did her best but natural kindness in the end, meant she had to put Widget down.<br />She really is a very remarkable woman.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JahDJ4J60rA/U0of4tXwa-I/AAAAAAAABBA/NR5zVYCU7Lk/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JahDJ4J60rA/U0of4tXwa-I/AAAAAAAABBA/NR5zVYCU7Lk/s1600/013.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Life has had to move on. Guinea pigs do not like living on their own and will quickly pine away and die if lonely. Linda went back up to see Maria and came home the following day with another guinea pig. She is a female called Penny, and is identical to Whiskey in colour. The only difference between them both is that Penny has a white smudge just beside her nose.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-icRa41A7Rlg/U0of8NAf2HI/AAAAAAAABBI/cY1gqZwJ1m4/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-icRa41A7Rlg/U0of8NAf2HI/AAAAAAAABBI/cY1gqZwJ1m4/s1600/020.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I believe Linda will be changing the name of Penny very soon...but I don't know what she will call her.<br />There has been no more new developments at work at present. The new way of working has not been without its problems and, although some of the changes are working, others are not. Here at St Mawes we have managed to adapt the whole thing ourselves and have made it work by dint of common sense and local knowledge. We have been luckier than most though, as has Portscatho...and I put this down to our isolation.<br />However, I am still on full hours at present as I am still going into Truro each day to clear the second wave of mail. The money is useful and it is no problem to me. It just means I am still not getting any writing done.<br />We have got the office into some semblance of order though and I have worked hard to sort out my corner of the place. Its taking shape.<br />We are using the Quay to park the vans first thing in the morning and that is an unusual sight.<br />I have been watching the shipping going in and out of Falmouth and spotted quite a few different vessels in the Carrick Roads. I managed to see this yacht as she was leaving. She has been there over the winter. The mast on her is the tallest mast in the world on a mono-hulled yacht. It is so tall it has to have a permanent red light at the top because of air traffic. Seriously; she could be trouble for helicopters because they can come over quite low to the water.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--KH_PxbUaY0/U0ofy0lLeqI/AAAAAAAABAw/W4DROUHR4wg/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--KH_PxbUaY0/U0ofy0lLeqI/AAAAAAAABAw/W4DROUHR4wg/s1600/006.JPG" height="640" width="480" />That is some tall mast.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Life for both of us is exceedingly good at the moment. Linda is enjoying her work on the Roseland as much as I am. Both of us feel very much part of the local community. Linda is more heavily involved with the Samba band now and has become their secretary. She is organising and dealing with things as only she knows how. Its what keeps her sane.<br />The other morning I was opening the curtains and was struck by how beautiful the colours looked on the wall beneath us. There is a lovely stone wall between us and Gary and Jeaneattes house. There is a camellia bush and a blossoming tree, plus a display of blue flowers. I couldn't resist taking a picture. I even managed to take it with Magic sitting in the back ground.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNs0To847nI/U0of1UfItwI/AAAAAAAABA4/ili1KqlNib0/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DNs0To847nI/U0of1UfItwI/AAAAAAAABA4/ili1KqlNib0/s1600/012.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Please forgive the quality of this photo. It was the pallette of colour I was after. <br />I am on duty today in the Lookout. Its my first watch of the new season. I shall write about it later on in the other blog.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-20467113228462255102014-03-30T01:58:00.001-07:002014-03-30T01:58:11.152-07:00Chapter Eighty EightLinda has obviously gone to work today. She now has to work every other weekend. I get a long weekend every four weeks so we both have a long weekend together next week. However today is a working day for her; and something of a marathon too. She had to leave this morning at 07-00 and will not get home until close to 22-00 tonight. It wouldn't matter so much, but she has not physically got time for a break. A bit over the top I feel.<br />Still, she is loving the work and loves some of her people that she cares for. Her big worry this morning is that some of her people may have forgot the clocks went forward last night. She is dreading finding complaints from all sides that she is to early.<br />St Patricks day has been and gone without a great deal of celebrating from our side. I used to go out on a St Patricks day night, but haven't done so for years. Just had a whiskey or two at home. Very nice.<br />The following day was Kacey's birthday. Always a great favourite of mine and my god daughjter as well. I can't believe that little scrap I held in my arms and told her first joke to, ( she definitely smiled...it wasn't wind), is now thrty five years old. That was a surprise. Tempus fugit.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdcOMA1C2PE/UzfaWbUhkLI/AAAAAAAAA_c/gQuD4tkw7PM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdcOMA1C2PE/UzfaWbUhkLI/AAAAAAAAA_c/gQuD4tkw7PM/s1600/002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I couldn't resist putting this picture up for you all to see. It was at the Eden Project. I can think of a few vehicles driving around which should have this number plate. A van I used the pther day when mine was at the garage was a case in point. It took half an hour to clean out the inside. Mind you, I had the last laugh; there was nearly four pound in loose change on the floor, under the carpets, and buried in amongst the rubbish. How thoughtful of someone to leave me a tip.<br />I quickly found something to put this contribution towards as well.<br />Unfortunately, we had a bit of a fail with the washing machine which resulted in a chap coming out to fix it. I have to say he done a terrific job and fixed it in no time. A useful bloke to go on our list of local craftsmen.<br />Friday found us enjoying the first day of spring. It was a glorious sunny day and I was helping out at Portscatho. I don't mind Portscatho at all and enjoy working there. I was doing Ellie's round of course as the only other chap who know's it was on holiday. Had a bit of an upset though when I discovered they are putting me on Lemon Street next week for one day.<br />Since they told me the St Mawes job was mine, I have been dragged off it at least one day a week for four weeks. I had no idea how much it was getting me down until Linda mentioned it. She told me that my temper was becoming uncertain; I was very pale around the face which was making me look old; seemed very miserable and stressed; and was taking it out on those around me.<br />I was shocked at first... but a little spark in me told me that she was right. I confess that she usually is.<br />I have also been having trouble with a chap who can be so nice...but is also uncertain in his behaviuor. One minute he is good to be with, the next he is a nightmare. I have never met anybody so keen to upset people. I didn't believe all the others at first when they told me...but I have found it to be true.<br />He really enjoys the power of 'mucking people about'. We had a bloke at Farnham just like it, but I never expected to find another.<br />You all know my view at work...'customer first' at all times...I was brought up on that. This blokes antics show us to be poles apart. I can normally rise above that sort of nonsense from people like that, but, due to a touch of the bite from the black dog, I found my stress levels rising.<br />Suffice to say, Linda brought me up short and we were able to deal with the problem. Thankfully I am now back to good humour and moving on. I have to confess, a wise head at Truro realised I could not possibly do Lemon Street after the new duty had changed so much. Leaving me at St Mawes now has completed the cure.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBOSunnbWnI/UzfaaENx8iI/AAAAAAAAA_k/KKVQyPtVzxs/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBOSunnbWnI/UzfaaENx8iI/AAAAAAAAA_k/KKVQyPtVzxs/s1600/006.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Talking of which; my new duty hours, and those of my two pals at St Mawes start in a weeks time.<br />I saw a couple of photo chances over the last fortnight and managed to take a couple of pictures from my delivery.<br />All my life I've wanted views like this on my delivery...and now I get them. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9AIxaC6qjE/UzfadJYnnBI/AAAAAAAAA_0/lLwMWsy8qa4/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o9AIxaC6qjE/UzfadJYnnBI/AAAAAAAAA_0/lLwMWsy8qa4/s1600/012.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Two totally different vessels but both good to look at. No prizes for guessing my favourite.<br />We had another day out at the Eden Project last Sunday. We have our local tickets which makes it a very economical day out. As ever, there were lots of new things to see and lots more photo opportunities for Linda. We spent all morning there and did not leave until about 14-00. We then nipped across to Charlestown and had a mooch around there. Lovely place and well worth a stroll about. We even had our Sunday dinner in the pub, (cheesy chips). We never really eat properly on a Sunday.<br />Linda is still going to band practice and is enjoying that. They have some gigs for the year to look forward to. I start the new season of Coastwatch in a fortnights time. I am on the first watch of that Sunday. It has worked out well with Linda's work and I should be able to do two watches a month on the Sundays she is working.<br />That's about it for now. I am going to start up my other blog on the Coastwatch as well this week. Thats my blog entitled...Liam and Coastwatch...snappy huh!!<br />I also have a host of little paperwork and tidying jobs to do at home here as well as getting things organised for work. I have put up a list of postcodes and streets in the office. I am also preparing a list of phone numbers; a list of our days off each week; and a general stores and information centre at the office. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36XYcMGlPyQ/UzfabtM1y4I/AAAAAAAAA_s/Or9HzVMCr6M/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36XYcMGlPyQ/UzfabtM1y4I/AAAAAAAAA_s/Or9HzVMCr6M/s1600/008.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>I couldn't resist this picture. The ferry to Falmouth with the other boat in the background. I thought it looked magical.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-51488098623071539212014-03-16T03:35:00.000-07:002014-03-16T12:16:33.658-07:00Chapter Eighty SevenA fair bit of excitement this last month or so. The main topic of news was the birth of our second grandson, Samuel. His mum, Katrina, had approached full term and was just waiting for things to start. On Sunday morning, 2cnd of March, she had twinges of pain and rung the hospital. They advised her to rest but not ring again until the waters had broken or the contractions started much closer together.<br />In a very short while the waters broke, and Katrina could feel the babies head. Before the midwife and the ambulance could arrive...Sam entered the world under his own steam. Kevin was able to catch him and hold him in his arms just as the ambulance crew arrived. A real home birth, with all the family, even if it was on the bathroom floor.<br />Oscar walked in on the entire thing and saw his brother. He looked at both his parents and simply asked, 'is this my baby?'&nbsp;&nbsp; From that moment on, he has been totally in love with him.<br />Needless to say, Kevin rang us straight away and Linda's face said it all. She is one very proud Grandma.<br />The following weekend was our seventh wedding anniversary. Although we had been invited to a family party in St Mawes on that Saturday, I had already arranged to take Linda away for a night for a meal and an anniversary break. Very quickly this has now turned into a lightening trip up country to see the new grandson.<br />The following Saturday found us both in Linda's car and steaming up the A30 towards Surrey. She must have been anxious to get there because we only took four hours...and stopped off for breakfast on the way up as well. I never got near the steering wheel.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe2n3OyKrw0/UyV8-5hxq5I/AAAAAAAAA-0/49kVZ22lPxo/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Oe2n3OyKrw0/UyV8-5hxq5I/AAAAAAAAA-0/49kVZ22lPxo/s1600/005.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was a fabulous weekend and we crammed a lot into it. We first got around to Katrina's, and Linda was soon holding the baby. Kevin and Oscar were out so it gave us a chance to see Sam without any interuption.<br />As is usual in the world of babies, I was eventually put in charge of 'holding the baby'. Very quickly he had dozed off in my arms and we were both curled up on the sofa...just like I used to do with Fiona and Lucy.<br />When Oscar and Kevin came back it was very clear that all three of them had the same look of pride in their faces. Lovely to catch up with them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hddwRvXeYhE/UyV9AmIGXrI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YdAF9I30464/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hddwRvXeYhE/UyV9AmIGXrI/AAAAAAAAA-8/YdAF9I30464/s1600/007.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then followed one of the fastest visits in Liam and Linda holidays. We rushed off to see mum and had an hour and a half with her. Great fun and a real surprise for her I think. We then shot off from there and nipped across to Linda's mum and had an hour and a half there. Jayson and Tracey turned up as well so that was great fun.<br />We then bolted from there and headed across country towards Wrecclesham. Here we caught up with Roxanne and had a meal with her in the Forest Inn. All to soon that time was up and we shot back to our travelodge and fell fast asleep as soon as the heads saw the pillows.<br />T he glorious weather held over to the following day and we were up and running out the door by ten. We met up with Katrina and the three boys at a nice pub in Fleet and all had breakfast. This was followed by a walk around Fleet Pond. I got put in charge of 'pram duty' and pushed Sam around for the entire time. Oscar was a delight and is proving to be a delightful; youngster.<br />We then left there and shot across to Farnham to meet up with my two. Jon was unable to be there as he was having driving lessons but we were able to catch up with Fiona, Lucy, and Woody. The two girls looked beautiful as always and it was so good to see them and have lunch with them. Woody is looking very fit as well with all his running and training that he does. They all put Linda and I to shame.<br />Sadly, our time with them was short and we had to leave. I think Woody may have been pleased as it meant he could get home to the England game in the Six Nations. It is not my place to now send him any grief over the fact that it is Ireland who have won the whole thing, and England who got pushed into second place. He's bigger than me for one thing ha ha.<br />Linda then got into the passenger seat of the car, exhausted, and was asleep in short order. I drove us home and we got back in a fairly reasonable time. It was a very hectic, yet very rewarding weekend.<br />Thursday the 27th of February is now the day I shall never forget on Royal Mail. This was the day that Louise, the DOM of our area, came out to St Mawes to get us all to sign for our duties. Although I knew it was a 'done deal' I knew I would never be happy until my name had been signed on the dotted line. That day was the day it happened. I was so pleased I almost burst. Being a postman is what I am; it is my world. To be a postman at the seaside has always been my dream; and to be the postman at St Mawes is really the icing on the cake.<br />Now it is all signed, sealed, and delivered. I can stay here until I chose to leave. As a small coincidence to all this...it was also Fleetwoods birthday today...he is 83.<br />He is very pleased for me and I am delighted that my customers all seem to feel the same way.<br />Two of my closest friends from Bentley are down in Cornwall for the weekend...by chance the weekend Sam was born...and we went out for a meal with them on the Friday evening.<br />The four of us had a lovely walk around the hotel they are staying at before we headed off to Mevagissey for a walk around there. A lovely evening and a real sense of the beginnings of a change in the weather. There is still a lot of rain about but the good patches are lasting longer.<br />We had our dinner at the Polgooth Arms were I had dinner and played in the quiz with Fiona and Woody. It was good to see them and we had a nice catch up.<br />The new working arrangements are now taking place in the Truro area and you can imagine the chaos in Royal Mail. All the new changes and working practices HAVE to be implimented. The word from on high is very simple...IT HAS TO WORK...END OF STORY. As you can imagine, this makes for a very difficult situation. What they are saying is basically...whether it is workable or not, you must make it work.<br />For St Mawes this has been a particularly ridiculous idea. It will never work on the plan Royal Mail want. It is neither cost effective, sensible, safe, or workable. Historically, our tiny village office has worked brilliantly since the time of Rowland Hill. If any changes to improve had been required, they would have been done. With this thought in mind, we decided that a simple tweaking would keep both sides happy.<br />Thankfully, we have been granted a degree of latitude to adapt the whole thing to our office. To the amazement of myself and the two Davids...the adaptation has worked...and worked well.<br />We are delighted and Royal Mail seem pleased that at least one of their Truro SPDO's is working well.<br />I am continuing with my job exactly as before, so no problem there. The two boys however have been given a van to share. One of them pops out early with the van and delivers all his heavy and large packets, plus most of his 'sign for' stuff. He also drops off his secondary bags at the safe houses. Meanwhile, the other lad walks around the quay and harbour area and delivers all that. He is never more than two minutes from the office so he just keeps nipping in and out. The first lad gets back, grabs his first pouch, and heads off on delivery.<br />The second lad then drives out with his heavy and large and 'signed for' stuff, and delivers those. He too drops off his secondary bag at an ex postmans house safe drop. He then returns the van to the quay and parks it on the harbour. He then heads off, walking along the parade and continues with his round.The second postman finishes at the top were his car is parked and can sort himself out before going home. The first postman does his circuit and finishes back at the post office were his van is parked.<br />The beauty of the whole thing is...its simple, safe,secure, cost effective, and its workable.<br />I have done two stints on Lemon Street over the last fortnight and I enjoyed them. I have to say though that I hope I don't get called back in to help out again.&nbsp; Nice to say a goodbye to that duty, but I'm a St Mawes man now.<br />Linda is enjoying her life down here as well. She is very happy working out in the local community and meeting local people. She is also very busy in the garden and on her allotment. A constant ball of fire, she is never happier than when she is doing as much work as possible. With a bit of luck now, she should be in a position to start promoting her own business soon.<br />Now that my new duty hours are changed all Royal Mail staff get a long weekend every four weeks. Linda also works alternate weekends...and the coincide. This means we alwayswill have a two-day weekend, every four weeks. We plan on camping out during the summer months and visiting parts of Devon and Cornwall.<br />A mate of mine down here, often goes camping with his wife and they walk in different places or go kayaking. We hope to do the same. It should be fun.<br />One final thing. This year is the anniversary of the start of 'The Great War'. My great grand dad was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. I have never forgotten him, although I never met him. Recently I was approached to see if I had any memorabilia concerning him. This is for an exhibition which will include focus on all soldiers killed from the 'Budleigh' area of Devon. I was delighted to be asked and very proud for great grand dad as you can imagine.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3lZa0VPJ-s/UyV9CkRKoSI/AAAAAAAAA_E/9p6u43wCAeA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3lZa0VPJ-s/UyV9CkRKoSI/AAAAAAAAA_E/9p6u43wCAeA/s1600/011.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Below is the chap who contacted me and I have included the name and address of the museum. Has anybody else reading this got any information you can send Michael? I bet he would be pleased to hear from you.<br />Look up Fairylynch Museum anyway. The exhibition starts in April and should be fascinating. Linda and I will definitely be going, and hopefully we will take mum as well. If any of you are down this way on holiday I think you will find this worth a visit. Just look out for Private John Hill. &nbsp; <br /><br /><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2167"><i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2166">Michael Downes <br />Secretary and Publicity Officer Fairlynch Museum and Arts Centre</i></div><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2148"><i>27. Fore Street,</i><br /><i>Budleigh Salterton,</i><br /><i>Devon</i><br /><i>EX9 6NP</i><br /><i>01395 442666</i></div><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2165"><i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2220"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2219" style="color: #009900;">'Something's happening at Fairlynch'</span></i></div><i></i><br /><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2164"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2216" lang="EN"><a href="http://budleighbrewsterunited.blogspot.com/" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2218" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2217">http://budleighbrewsterunited.blogspot.com/</i></a><br /><a href="http://devonmuseums.net/fairlynch" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2215" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2214">http://devonmuseums.net/fairlynch </i></a></span></div><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2151" lang="EN"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fairlynch" id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2213" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2212"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2211" style="color: blue;"><i id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2210">facebook.com/Fairlynch</i></span></u></a></span><br /><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2163"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2151" lang="EN"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/1811Fairlynch" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><i>Twitter.com/1811Fairlynch</i></a><i> </i></span></span></div><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2151" lang="EN"></span><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2162"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2151" lang="EN"><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2208" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><span id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2151" lang="EN"><div id="yui_3_13_0_ym1_1_1394965020634_2150"></div></span>Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-85272404439545487282014-02-16T08:55:00.000-08:002014-03-16T01:42:06.941-07:00Chapter Eighty SixHi there one and all. As you can see, I have not been near the blog for two months. I've been very distracted at the moment because of so many things. Christmas took up much of our time; Linda starting a new job; going up country to visit family; and worry about my job at St Mawes.<br />As most of you know...I am a postman through and through. I love my work and love my own duty. Bentley delivery was my passion and my delight for so many years and I was devastated when I left it and came down here. Don't get me wrong...I love Cornwall...I just missed my job and my people. Over the last year I have been in the temporary post of driver at St Mawes. I have been well aware that when the new duties start I will have to join in with the re-sign. I am also aware that it would be a very lucky day if I got St Mawes.&nbsp; <br />What I did not suspect was just how very much I would grow to love the duty and the people on it. I have made some lovely friends and once more found myself giving as much to this duty as I did to Bentley. I am also well aware that the re-sign is set for the beginning of this year. The fear of losing this job has eaten away at me for most of last year and has really intensified over the last few months...hence the lack of writing.<br />Anyway, four days ago the new duties, resign positions, and seniority lists went up on the board. My manager was there and she spoke to me and showed me the board.<br />To my absolute delight...I am transferred to St Mawes as my new office. I will now stay there with the two David's and nobody can take the job off me. The rules state that each office has its own employee's and they get first refusal on their office duties. Both the boys want to keep their jobs and I get to keep mine.<br />One of my biggest dreams has come true. Not only have I got a job on Royal Mail working at the seaside,(something I've wanted for over forty years), but I shall be able to keep it until I decide to retire. I am beyond happy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xuyIgR_kS0/UwDrSZnmiSI/AAAAAAAAA-I/z5uKUTEgCFs/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_xuyIgR_kS0/UwDrSZnmiSI/AAAAAAAAA-I/z5uKUTEgCFs/s1600/007.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Its been a long old road but...YEEHAH!!!<br />I should return to the last couple of months though.<br /><br />CHRISTMAS.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This was a very busy time of the year for us both. Linda was instructed by her company to have a week off work, so she was able to pop up country for a few days and see all the family. She had a great time and brought mum back with her to spend a few days with us. Therese, Becky, and Jamie came down a couple of days later and they stayed in a nearby holiday place. The house was all decorated as you know and so we had an early Christmas with them all.<br />It was great fun as we celebrated Christmas together on the Saturday. One of the beauties of living down here is that we can have several christmasses each year.<br />They all went back home on the 15th and Linda and I settled in to a busy work pattern right up to Christmas Eve and beyond.<br />Linda had to work over a part of the Christmas as well as her normal days. Thankfully the gave her Christmas Day off. However she did end up working the late shift on the 24th; the early shift on the 26th; and would you believe it...the late shift on New Years Eve and the early shift on New Years Day.<br />The bonus of all this was that we didn't go anywhere and got to spend a lot more time together. That was brilliant.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu8xI6ZGX6c/UwDq0L8nciI/AAAAAAAAA94/UhkD4PeZ-4Y/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu8xI6ZGX6c/UwDq0L8nciI/AAAAAAAAA94/UhkD4PeZ-4Y/s1600/009.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />I worked nearly every day in December apart from the first two Sundays. I also got Christmas day and Boxing day off. I have to confess I loved every minute of it. My customers were more than generous with my Christmas boxes. I must be doing something right for them because I collected more than had ever been collected on that round before.<br />It was a lovely time and very much like the Christmasses I used to have on my old Bentley round.<br />I was unable to get into work at Truro on Christmas Eve by the direct route. The road was flooded at Tresillian and I had to find a diversionary route. This stood me in good stead in January as the bad weather over this time proved to be a harbinger of the weeks ahead.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hCho0ijSDMs/UwDq64pFM9I/AAAAAAAAA-A/PUNCyHbekXs/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hCho0ijSDMs/UwDq64pFM9I/AAAAAAAAA-A/PUNCyHbekXs/s1600/002.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />LINDA.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally Linda has managed to get a job doing what she does best. She is now working for a local company and is back out in the community where she belongs. This is the work she is so good at and this is the community she wishes to work with. At the same time she is hoping to promote her own business and offer a service for the help of dementia sufferers here as well. She has already started some of her shifts and we are finding that our paths are crossing over as we both go about our respective work.<br />Linda is also showing another side to her considerable talents. As well as the garden and the allotment, she is also showing a practical side as regards craft work. She has been collecting driftwood from the beaches and has been making driftwood models. She has a real talent for this so we shall not starve if her other work goes under.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwPJhX8vueE/UwDrpp3BY2I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/NBcyrfe_yIs/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WwPJhX8vueE/UwDrpp3BY2I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/NBcyrfe_yIs/s1600/029.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />It's funny how both of us have taken to our new lives down here. I am the postman at St Mawes and play a part over there. I am also in the NCI and playing my part in that. At the same time I am involved in a poetry group and a writing group.<br />Linda is now working on the Roseland and becoming a part of the general life over here. She is also in the local Samba band. Both of us in our own ways are being slowly absorbed by Cornwall. Its magical.<br /><br />FRIENDS AND FAMILY.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; We paid a flying visit up country a week ago to see family. Because I could get no time off in December we turned it partly into a mini christmas as well. Both Fiona and Lucy looked gorgeous; never mind 'biased' I hear you cry; they did. I hope they can visit us again this year.<br />All of our children are settled and living their lives. We are both very proud of all five of them. Although three of them will always be Linda's own children and two of them will always be my own, we both find ourselves pleased and anxious about all five.<br />They'll never be the 'Brady Bunch', but at least they all get on and like each other.<br />Anyway; we had a fine time seeing everyone and we had a lovely mini Christmas at Fiona's house with all my gang. This Christmas has been a little bit special for us all, with the amount of 'home-made' gifts, and the amount of gifts that showed caring and thoughtfulness in their choosing. It was good.<br />We also spent a little time with Oscar who recognised his grandma and Grandpa straight away...thankyou SKYPE...and wasted no time in coming to us for 'play and chat.' He is looking forward to the birth of his new brother or sister soon. Katrina has not long to go before the due date.<br />We managed to see Roxanne and Ian for an hour or so before we came home. That boy has certainly shot further up in height. He towers over me. Roxanne is looking fit and is taking part in some of these 'brutal' runs. I think Woody and Jon do some of those as well. Roxanne is different as she also does them linked to one of the dogs. I seem to have grown more fond of just sitting quietly and cheering these fit people on.<br />It was also nice to catch up with Grahame and Julie. We had a meal with them and even got to see Alexander and Emily for a brief moment. We also saw Therese , Becky, and Brendan. Although we had seen them recently. we had not seen Brendan for a year or more. It was good to catch up. We also managed to see both mums as well. Not much of a rest but great fun.<br />I was also able to catch up with, and introduce Linda to Susie. Susie is a long standing friend of mine from Bentley. I have watched her boys grow up into fine young men and we have shared much over the years. I was also delighted to meet up with Helen, who was my tutor and mentor for writing. She taught me much and gave me great encouragement. She and her family were down in Cornwall for a week and we met up for a meal together.<br />Friends from abroad have also featured more and more. I am back in touch with Chris who I worked with years ago and has since moved to Canada. I am also back in touch with brother and sister, Malcolm and Maureen Shackleton. We grew up as kids together back in the sixties. Looking forward to seeing them when they come over from Australia this year.<br /><br />THE WEATHER.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; This has been the main talking point; not only in this country; but all over the world. The North American continent has been frozen almost over the entire landmass. Bitter cold temperatures left them struggling for some considerable time.<br />Australia has been burning up with temperatures that I have on my oven as settings for making dinner's. There have been Typhoons, Hurricanes, Cyclones, Tornado's, and giant storms as well in other parts of the world.<br />Here in the British Isles, we have had snow, wind, and rain...but it seems to have been in biblical proportions.<br />The South West and Wales has contended with high tides, driving rain, and strong winds that have brought destruction and misery in their wake.Thankfullywe have been relatively unscathed at our house. The tide comes across the road on a high spring tide anyway, although it has come in a little further recently. Fortunately no properties have been flooded.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ThUfK0aYDzY/UwDqP1u1rFI/AAAAAAAAA9g/2Su4igJ7sK0/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ThUfK0aYDzY/UwDqP1u1rFI/AAAAAAAAA9g/2Su4igJ7sK0/s1600/022.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp; This was the tide out and below was six hours later.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiTTqr5-DRk/UwDqZBngRwI/AAAAAAAAA9o/Dl1jXAvQnwM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiTTqr5-DRk/UwDqZBngRwI/AAAAAAAAA9o/Dl1jXAvQnwM/s1600/018.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br />The high winds and gales don't quite reach us down here in the valley and so we have managed to avoid any damage. The odd tree across the road or the odd bit of road flooding with run-off from the fields has been the main problem. We've been lucky.<br />However, St Mawes has taken a battering. The biggest hotel was damaged by flying stones in the waves and flooded out. The harbour wall took some damage and shifted four inches. The flag poles and rubbish bins are somewhere out in the Carrick Roads I think. Even the trusty old mail van has had two cracked windscreens in as many months. Both caused by wave damage. I had no idea such big stones could fly up in the waves.<br />In the rest of Cornwall there has been much shifting of sand off the beaches. Some have now got to much...others have none.<br />Cliff falls have been wide spread and places have had to be fenced off. Its been a nightmare for some victims who have been flooded for over six weeks. There is no railway line into Cornwall either until they fix the huge damage at Dawlish. We only walked along there a few years ago.<br />This is a view of the road below us at high tide.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WO9faYP9CN0/UwDqpPNOjeI/AAAAAAAAA9w/NFz0BI-jgTg/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WO9faYP9CN0/UwDqpPNOjeI/AAAAAAAAA9w/NFz0BI-jgTg/s1600/011.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />WRITING<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Life has taken on new meaning for me, now that I know my job is secure. I feel invigorated and ready to get back to some serious writing again. I still send off two stories a week to the Western Morning News. I sent a couple of stories to Ian Hislop to read and he kindly gave me a small critique on them. I have&nbsp; two books of stories ready to be pushed out as well. Each week I go to a small writing group consisting of just me, Paula, and Sarah. Both of them are good writers and keep me focussed on my own work. All and all...life is good and I can't wait to see what this year brings. Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-47582990818189154472013-12-06T02:52:00.004-08:002013-12-06T02:52:59.058-08:00Chapter Eighty FiveChristmas is very much all around us at present and we are right in the swing of things. Life is becoming very busy for us both and we are both tired out in the evening. I find I am working a physically active day for the best part of twelve hours...and Linda is doing the same. We stagger in and eat dinner but are normally heading off to bed by nine pm.<br />Fortunately for me, Linda is an absolute powerhouse on her days off. Whereas I will use my day off to try and get some energy back...Linda dives straight in to other things. This is why we have...<br />1/. All the presents bought.<br />2/. All the presents wrapped.<br />3/. The house all prepared for Christmas.<br />4/. The garden and allotment neat and tidy.<br />5/. EVERYTHING DONE!!!<br />My contribution seems to have been to make tea; keep out of the way; read books; and be taken the rise out of.<br />Amazingly; and to both parties delight; this system works.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdKrJKw_Aog/UqGobgoRMHI/AAAAAAAAA78/nJeN-Ganths/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdKrJKw_Aog/UqGobgoRMHI/AAAAAAAAA78/nJeN-Ganths/s640/011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We have had a couple of good evenings out though over the last couple of weeks. Truro has a 'Parade of Light', in the evening as a start to the Christmas down here. We drove into town, parked up, and walked through to Lemon Street. There was a good place to stand that we knew of, and we found ourselves standing on the side of the road with a huge crowd of people.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwKdICNKskw/UqGoZLHy2UI/AAAAAAAAA70/bg4aE-C7FJE/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwKdICNKskw/UqGoZLHy2UI/AAAAAAAAA70/bg4aE-C7FJE/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Although noisy and cold we enjoyed the whole thing very much. The parade was full of bands, but the main attraction were the huge paper lanterns, in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and lit from within. They must put a great deal of effort into making them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjJXTvxLctY/UqGoeUtaviI/AAAAAAAAA8E/ry60ccmCFmI/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hjJXTvxLctY/UqGoeUtaviI/AAAAAAAAA8E/ry60ccmCFmI/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was a good evening.<br />The next evening I was up at Tregony WI and giving a talk on Royal Mail. It was great fun and I enjoyed it. A lot of post has been delivered since I last gave a talk like that. When I was forbidden to do them ten years ago..."We're a business not a service."... I swore I wouldn't do any more and I have stuck to that. Since then though I have decided that I don't really care about that anymore. If people want to hear a talk about Royal Mail, they can have one.<br />It went well and we all had a bit of a laugh. They say you can tell if a talk went well by the amount of questions you are asked. Judging by this evenings questions...it was a good one.<br />We also had a brilliant evening in Grampound at a 'Folk and Cajun' evening.<br />The folk band were very good and one of Linda's friends was playing and singing in it. Great fun. There was a meal as well of something called 'Gumbo'. Very nice dish and tasty with it. Seemingly it is a cajun meal from the everglades.<br />It tasted great anyway. The Cajun music was very good too and we were soon up and dancing with everyone else. A very good evening.<br />Linda has spent her days off bringing her new business up to speed. She is to be found designing things and organising stuff at every opportunity. She is busy at the home as well and has now settled down into their working pattern. She is actually enjoying herself there which is good. I hope that when the time comes she will be able to combine both the home and her own business. So long as she is happy with what she does, she tends to stay balanced and focussed. It is then that she makes such a brilliant impact on those around her.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZ9aofweZC4/UqGpA3QBwtI/AAAAAAAAA8M/CiT2xGIW2RQ/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JZ9aofweZC4/UqGpA3QBwtI/AAAAAAAAA8M/CiT2xGIW2RQ/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />St Mawes has still been a delight on my deliveries. I saw this huge ship coming out from Falmouth the other morning. Fantastic. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7Guf51MyoA/UqGpfpw60jI/AAAAAAAAA80/WIQ0v_mMKIo/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7Guf51MyoA/UqGpfpw60jI/AAAAAAAAA80/WIQ0v_mMKIo/s640/025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I was able to check out her number on the side and look her up on the computer. I do love this little world of mine.<br />My own work is going well although there is the old dark cloud on the horizon. I never thought it would happen again but I have grown as fond of this duty and the people living on it as I did with Bentley. I am very aware that in the new year there will be a re-sign taking place and I may lose the duty. I have made so many friends over the last year and been so very happy at St Mawes. I don't think I can face staying on if I lose it. I'm not sure; at present I really don't want to think about it...but it bubbles up into my head now and again.<br />On the plus side though; the work is now starting to come in thick and fast and I am enjoying myself very much. I do love Christmas Duties. This will be my 43rd Christmas as a postman. I have done a Christmas duty every year since I was seventeen.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbBpD6r0R98/UqGpdbJxNNI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Zu1OlrEpVh0/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbBpD6r0R98/UqGpdbJxNNI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Zu1OlrEpVh0/s640/021.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />We have got the Christmas tree up and the decorations are all around the house. Old favourites have been brought out and new ones bought. It is all very festive and the cottage looks a treat. We even have three cards up already and I have had a £25-00 tip already. Our main room reminds me of my childhood and the Christmasses we had in 'Wishanger'. Sadly there is only me and mum to remember that time though. I wonder if she will think it when she gets here.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zqt9fupuhg/UqGpFlqy3xI/AAAAAAAAA8c/QLxpKm78wTw/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zqt9fupuhg/UqGpFlqy3xI/AAAAAAAAA8c/QLxpKm78wTw/s640/019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I have just got over a really bad cold and infected throat. Its been years since I had a cold or sore throat like this one. I didn't take any time off work, which didn't go down well with the blokes I work with. I managed to give all three a mild cold of their own. I felt really lousy for about ten days and am only now starting to improve. I have to confess that being out in the fresh air has certainly made it more bearable. Once I get rid of this catarrh I should be up and running. Its not been pleasant though.<br />We did have a lovely time this Sunday though and we enjoyed ourselves very much. One of Linda's friends invited us both out to dinner at his club that he goes to. We joined him there and had a lovely meal and a catch-up with him. It was a lovely few hours and he refused to take any contribution towards the bill. When he went to pay the bill Linda reminded me that she had told me he would never let me pay anything towards the meal.<br />She then changed the subject and asked me how old I thought he was. He had been very spry and with all his 'marbles' intact. To look at he seemed very fit and active. The only honest answer I could give was to say he was in his mid seventies; probably 74 or 75.<br />Linda told me that was what she had first thought...but in fact he is 94. An amazing and wonderful old man.<br />When we got home we went for a little walk down to the creek. While we were there Linda told me she wanted to collect some moss and dry it out. Two days later I got home off delivery and found she had revitalised my crib. It looks really good now.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jYfcB3yk7U/UqGpIxI6-NI/AAAAAAAAA8k/ZLAUBSrUigo/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jYfcB3yk7U/UqGpIxI6-NI/AAAAAAAAA8k/ZLAUBSrUigo/s640/035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is now the sixth of December and the workload is increasing. Linda has just gone up-country for a few days to see her family. The home Linda works at insisted she have a week off before Christmas...or lose the week all together.<br />I am not allowed any time off in December by Royal Mail, unless it has been certified by a coroner, so I have been left behind. I would love to have seen my kids this weekend but it was not to be.<br />Linda will stay with her parents for the weekend and will be coming home on Monday. She will be bringing mum down with her to hopefully have a little bit of a convalese with us both.<br />Although today is my day-off and I am in to work tomorrow and again on Monday. Sunday is going to be the day I complete all the Christmas cards.<br />Today I have a haircut to get done and shopping for the week to do. The weather is good and so the guinea pigs have been put out in the garden for some fresh air and a bit of sun.<br />Finally, this morning, we awoke to the news that Nelson Mandella died last night. This is a man that very few will ever forget. There's not a lot I can say... but on this occasion I think David Cameron got it right when he said...<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEewkhI19NI/UqGpF81dVkI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/uVAMIlxKC10/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEewkhI19NI/UqGpF81dVkI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/uVAMIlxKC10/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "A light has gone out in the world."Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-17803213269904755922013-11-20T03:13:00.003-08:002013-11-20T03:13:56.535-08:00Chapter Eighty FourSorry everybody; I'm getting worse in the old memory stakes each passing day. I thought I had written on this blog on the 12th of November. It turns out I wrote on my other one concerning the Coastwatch.<br />Here's the 'catch-up'.<br />Linda has been extremely busy in her new life. Those of you who know her will understand that her idea of relaxation is to be just as busy as normal...but by doing something different. For a good part of the year she has been taking me for walks on Carne beach. ( For Gods sake...I made that sound like I'm an old labrador or something).<br />I'll start again. Linda and I have been going for walks on Carne beach when we can. I normally take alomg an old mail bag or two and fill them with any old plastic that has been washed up. This always looks better in our recycle bin than cluttering up the beach. Linda meanwhile, has a sack of her own that she collects driftwood in.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5FrDypZnbiY/UoyQqmZs7pI/AAAAAAAAA7k/DtWphTqChVc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5FrDypZnbiY/UoyQqmZs7pI/AAAAAAAAA7k/DtWphTqChVc/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;This is her searching amongst the rocks on the beach.<br />Her artistic talents are amazing and she has been making all sorts of things that rival any of the driftwood articles found in local gift shops. She was selling bunches of flowers during the summer at our local farm shop. She'll be selling these at local craft markets next.<br />Her other talent has been for the making of jams, chutneys, jellies, and other preserves. I feel like an extra in an episode of the 'Archers'. Its only when you look in her craft room that you can see how busy and how amazing, she really is.<br />Thankfully, I to am not letting the side down.<br />I grant you all, that whole praries of grass can grow under my feet before I do something. I also agree that my idea of relaxation is my backside firmly planted in a chair and my eyes locked firmly onto a book. For all that I am getting some writing done. I had my sixtieth article printed in the Western Morning News this week in their Country Notebook section.<br />It makes no money for us...but it does keep my profile out there for other's to see. Several times, people have stopped either Linda or myself and asked if I am the writer of these pieces. That can be good and any day now I expect to see my name up in lights.<br />PERHAPS NOT!!! <br />My name <u>is</u> up on a board in Tregony this week for a different reason however. I was asked if I would give a talk on Royal Mail to the local WI. I used to love doing that years ago but gave it up when things got so bad at Farnham. This time I couldn't resist giving it another go and agreed to give the talk. Thats tomorrow and I am more nervous than I ever expected to be.<br />I was on delivery the other morning when I saw this beautiful looking vessel sitting in the Carrick Roads. It was enormous. Suddenly a large helicopter flew away from it. The helicopter must have been inside the thing because I never spotted it on deck. I did think, I've worked hard all my life, and I couldn't even afford to buy the ships wheel...never mind all the rest of the package.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULwjFsatj98/UoyQeZakdBI/AAAAAAAAA7c/8AC_dUZPPLQ/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULwjFsatj98/UoyQeZakdBI/AAAAAAAAA7c/8AC_dUZPPLQ/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br />The weather has turned a little chillier in the wind and the guinea pigs are now back in their winter quarters. This consists of living in the greenhouse. They seem quite happy in there, although on sunny days, Linda puts them back out in their run in the garden for a few hours. Its hard to believe this is our second Winter with them.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EYxWNnhCsJU/UoyQeGRiT2I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/rBzeSXkZ4qc/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EYxWNnhCsJU/UoyQeGRiT2I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/rBzeSXkZ4qc/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Both of us are a little tired at the moment and I think a lot of that is to do with our jobs. Linda finds it very busy in the residential home although she enjoys the people she looks after. Trying to get her own business off the ground is hard on her too.<br />I am finding it busy at work as well. Although the perceived impression at Truro is that the jobs in the SPDO's are fairly easy...I rarely finish my duty before three in the afternoon. I do work a full eight hour day with no proper break. I love it though and it doesn't bother me at all.<br />Christmas is showing evidence of itself more and more at work as well. Loads of packets coming through, plus the millions of catalogues that fill the letterboxes at this time of year. I swear that advertising alone must consist of seventy per cent of all mail posted.<br />Still no talk of industrial action at present so that is a worry put firmly at the back of the mind.<br />We went to Tregony for the Rememberance Sunday service. As usual it was very well attended and we were happy to take part. The whole thing was very moving and I left a cross in front of the memorial for my my great grandfather.<br />Linda and I had a chat about things and I told her I would like to commemorate his service during the Great War. As it is 100 years next year since the war began, I told her I would like to go to the war memorial with his name on it in East Budleigh in Devon. I want to go each year for the next five years as a way of commemorating him personally. It means a lot to me.<br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 642px;"> <colgroup><col width="94"></col> <col width="540"></col> </colgroup><tbody><tr> <th width="94"> First Name: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> John <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_Surname"></a>Surname: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> Hill <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_DOB"></a>DOB: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> Circa 1877 <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_Age"></a>Age: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> 40 <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_BirthTown"></a>Birth Town: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> Woodbury, Devon. <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_ResidedTown"></a>Resided Town: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> East Budleigh, Devon. <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_Nationality"></a>Nationality: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> British <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_DateofDeath"></a>Date of Death: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> 26/09/1917 <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_Fate"></a>Fate: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> Killed in Action <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_Information"></a>Information: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> Parents: Samuel and Jane Hill, of Woodbury, Devon; husband of Annie Hill, of Porch Cottage, East Budleigh, Devon. <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_Rank"></a>Rank: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> Private <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_ServiceNumber"></a>Service Number: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> 46490 <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_DutyLocation"></a>Duty Location: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> France And Flanders <br /> </td> </tr><tr> <th width="94"> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="bm_CampaignMedals"></a>Campaign Medals: <br /> </th> <td width="540"> <a href="http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medal/victory-medal/"><b>Victory Medal</b></a><br /><br /><img align="LEFT" alt="victory medal" border="0" height="183" name="graphics1" src="http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/Content/Img/LegacyImages/victorymedal.jpg" width="90" />Like many service personnel of World War One, John Hill was entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.<br /><br />Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised, fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible. <a href="http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/viewrecord/1463994/?reference=arrowlinks&amp;ordermedals=victory-medal,british-war-medal&amp;selectonly=victory-medal&amp;recordid=1463994"> </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medal/british-war-medal/"><b>British War Medal</b></a><br /><br /><img align="LEFT" alt="british war medal" border="0" height="173" name="graphics3" src="http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/Content/Img/LegacyImages/britishwarmedal.jpg" width="90" />As with many Armed Forces personnel, John Hill was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918.<br /><br />The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period. <a href="http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/viewrecord/1463994/?reference=arrowlinks&amp;ordermedals=victory-medal,british-war-medal&amp;selectonly=british-war-medal&amp;recordid=1463994"> </a> <br /> </td> </tr></tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div>Great grandad was an ordinary man who went to war. He didn't have to...but he did anyway. He has always been someone for me to look up too.<br />I have been at Portscatho for a few shifts this last couple of weeks. I've been doing Ellies job and covering for some of her holiday. Its been a nice change and I've enjoyed it. Her job can be finished earlier than mine because it starts earlier. Nice to be home before two on a couple of days.<br />Last Saturday was our NCI lunch and I managed to swap my duty with Stephen so that I could finish earlier. It was great fun and I spent time with Chris and Sue discussing the training programme. I am hoping to be able to help out with it in the future. I still find it hard to believe I am a qualified coastwatcher.<br />Really pleased.<br />I managed to become the victim of road rage the other day. I instinctively answered my phone while driving the other day. I can't think why because I normally won't answer when behind the wheel. I know it was foolish...but it really upset the bloke in the car behind me.<br />Although I had long since terminated the call, he followed me off the main road towards a little village, and as soon as I pulled up, blocked me in and really went off on one. He was obviously very upset about me speaking on my phone and issued all sorts of threats. I managed to calm him down and agreed with everything he said. It didn't mollify him but it stopped him from doing something stupid.<br />I heard a conversation the other day between two ladies in a shop talking about the same sort of incident. It happened to one of them. Methinks there is some sort of vigilante group starting up. I have to admit I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed by himself...but not perhaps in the way he delivered it. I leave my phone in the back of the car now so that I can't answer it. Its daft really...I wouldn't dream of making a call whilst driving...yet instinctively answer when rung.<br />Just a little word once more on the weather before I finish. A cold snap has settled in bringing bright clear skies and a bitter cold wind. Although I was quite happily delivering in my shorts as usual...I was wearing a woolly hat and a fleece as well. It must have looked very odd.<br />Having said that; on the same morning I found this beautiful agapanthus growing beside someones front door. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFIzEkK80tI/UoyQbmt1nbI/AAAAAAAAA7M/qW2FuVvnSMs/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFIzEkK80tI/UoyQbmt1nbI/AAAAAAAAA7M/qW2FuVvnSMs/s640/010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I love these plants and as far as I can make out, this must be one of the last ones standing.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-76048941718033532822013-11-03T22:23:00.000-08:002013-11-03T22:23:14.581-08:00Chapter Eighty ThreeLinda and I paid a visit to the church at St Just the other day. I don't know why it has taken us so long to go there. I park 100 yards away from it every day when on delivery but I had never been inside.The Sunday dawned bright and clear so we decided to go for a walk. I drove us over to St Just and we walked through the village and followed the footpath down to the creek beside Penpol.<br />Linda was delighted with the amount of black berries and rosehips still out and has made a note to come back here again. We followed the path alongside the creek, through Tregorland and around to the church. One of my ladies is moving from the area and we had seen a photo taken of her property from the air. It was this photo that made me realise just how much was down here alongside the Bar.<br />As we approached the Bar, we saw this wonderful old church sitting across the lagoon in all its glory.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2QwZOwhIMkA/UncpLyOD0WI/AAAAAAAAA6A/bc-961EnsUM/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2QwZOwhIMkA/UncpLyOD0WI/AAAAAAAAA6A/bc-961EnsUM/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp; To the right of this picture is the Carrick Roads and it leads in on this bit to the creek at St Just. Between this picture and the sea is a spit of land which is an extension of the ground that the boat yard uses. This spit of land is called 'The Bar' and is what has formed the lagoon in front of the church. Part of the lagoon is full of boats which are either stored here for the winter or worked on from the boatyard.<br />Sadly the tide is out in this picture but it is still a lovely place.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpF1y03uKZI/UncpUl78PRI/AAAAAAAAA6M/MwKVRliOmoc/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpF1y03uKZI/UncpUl78PRI/AAAAAAAAA6M/MwKVRliOmoc/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I imagine it can be a busy and bustling kind of place in season with holidaymakers walking around the paths and through the churchyard. There would also be the work of the boatyard going on, which must surely be noisy at times. On this day however it was very still and peaceful. The only artificial sound close by was the sound of ropes slapping against masts in the fitful wind. This is a sound I could listen to for hours; so evocative of the sea it overwhelms me as much as the cry of a seagull or the sound of waves crashing onto a beach. Perfect.<br />Needless to say, Linda and I adopted our usual routine when exploring places like this. Linda moved silently around the place, admiring the nature and the fabric of the place while taking photographs of much better pictures than I can. Meanwhile I absorbed the history of it all and drifted in my mind through the time and place it showed me.<br />It really was a brilliant afternoon.<br />I did feel a little guilty though. All through the year, I have been stopped by holiday makers walking through St Just who have asked me where the nearest cafe or pub is. Repeatedly I have told them that the nearest chance of a drink...either tea and coffee or alcohol...is in St Mawes. Imagine my shame when Linda and I finally walked into the church and found they have tea and coffee making facilities laid on for people who call in. All the makings are there and you just put a donation in the box.<br />I had a red face for hours.<br />The rest of the next week was taken up with work and so on. My van door finally gave up the ghost and I could not open it from the inside. I had to leave the window permanently open and reach out through it to open the van door from the outside. That was a very long hour and a half I must say. I spent the rest of the week driving a reserve van. This van was resplendent in Royal Mail insignia but was white instead of red. This confused many people who thought it was yet another downside of the privatisation of the business.<br />Mum also got the 'all-clear' from the hospital concerning her suspected cancer in the stomach. We all know why they were so concerned but it turned out to be a large hernia. Thats a weight off the old mind.<br />I also received my copy of Tricia's book about St Polycarps in Farnham. It is a wellwritten and interseting book and I have enjoyed reading through it. Needless to say...I am in the book in a photograph. It is the one of me on my first day at school aged five. Its hard to believe it was in 1959.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Su-zNf9OhA/UncwFyKBJWI/AAAAAAAAA68/rO0FWfFV8s4/s1600/First+Day+at+School+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4Su-zNf9OhA/UncwFyKBJWI/AAAAAAAAA68/rO0FWfFV8s4/s640/First+Day+at+School+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The innocent days of my childhood had barely three years left before the monsters came...but this photo is a reminder of the happy times I had as a child in 'Wishanger'. Wonderful<br />Most of the rest of the week was taken up in preparation for the big storm that was brewing out in the Atlantic.<br />This storm was certainly a huge one and, as it turned out, deadly and damaging to much of the country. People were sadly killed, and there was much damage to property and much disruption. Like everybody else we made all the preparation necessary, and viewed the approach with some misgivings...then it avoided us anyway.<br />The Saturday was quite a breezy day and it got very windy in the evening when Linda went to work. Fiona and Woody are down and staying in Polgooth and I was concerned for all three of them. Linda had battened down the garden, including making sure the guinea pigs were safe. I helped by rushing out side and saving my three garden gnomes. Linda came in and found all three of them huddled in the porch and safe. Strangely...she was not impressed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwcs9wA6lDk/Uncp0A7OJYI/AAAAAAAAA6c/asSL2kkh1UI/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwcs9wA6lDk/Uncp0A7OJYI/AAAAAAAAA6c/asSL2kkh1UI/s640/009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I shall probably keep them in now until Spring. I haven't told Linda.<br />The early wind from the storm howled around the house until almost midnight when it suddenly stopped and became quite peaceful. It was still like that when I woke up and got ready for my last watch this season at the lookout.<br />Linda got home off her night duty and said that it was blustery at Portscatho but quite clear. When I got to the lookout I discovered it was blowing a force 6 or 7 with occasional gusts of gale force 8. The skies were clear however and it was quite dry. It was still like that when Fiona and Woody turned up just before the end of my watch. It was good to see them and exciting in the strong wind...and that was the extent of our storm of the century.<br />The following morning I awoke to no power cuts, no damage, and barely any wind at all. I left for Truro twenty minutes early so that I would not be to late if there were any problems...and all that happened was, I was twenty minutes early into work. It appears that the main force of the storm didn't really landfall until somewhere further east in the Plymouth area.<br />It was a narrow escape as all day long I listened to reports of problems from the rest of the country.<br />That evening Linda and I had a couple of visitors in the shape of Derek and Jayne. They are down for a long weekend and so we met up and had a meal with them. It was as if the storm had never taken place.<br />I saw Fiona and Woody twice through the week...both times in a pub and both times taking part in a pub quiz. We called ourselves 'Farnham meets Ruan Lanihorne' and it was a good laugh. Sadly Linda couldn't join us as she was working a week of twelve hour days.<br />My very good friend Fleetwood Butland surprised us the other day. His wife, who I sadly never met, was called Nancy. By all accounts she was a lovely lady and was a nurse for all her working life. I told Fleet' that Fiona and Woody now had a niece born the other day who was also called Nancy. It is an unusual name to be called these days and neither of us could think of anybody else that we might know that was called it.<br />Fleet was delighted though to hear of a new baby with the same name as his wife and gave me a picture of his Nancy, in uniform, and holding a baby at a local hospital.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EjPym611KME/UncpejC9iEI/AAAAAAAAA6U/QTUUQtLr_gE/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EjPym611KME/UncpejC9iEI/AAAAAAAAA6U/QTUUQtLr_gE/s640/007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;He then told me a little story. He and Nancy had never had children of their own but Nancy had always bought little gifts for babies that she was closely connected too. He told me that he had&nbsp; looked through some of her things and had found a small silver christening gift that Nancy had bought for someone, but she had died before giving it.<br />He told me that it would please him very much if Woody and Fiona could pass it on to the new baby Nancy, from his own Nancy. All three of us were deeply touched by this and I know Woody will never forget his kindness. He is a really lovely man and a very good friend.<br />The week has now drawn to a close and this is my long weekend off work. I did go in on Saturday for some overtime and did the driving duty at Portscatho. It was great catching up with old friends and I had a great day. I must admit though to a touch of sadness as I looked across to St Mawes from St Anthony Head and realised just how much I wanted to be delivering over there.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wM-x43BxOe4/Uncp8-DpRjI/AAAAAAAAA6s/BV1d-vjm9a8/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wM-x43BxOe4/Uncp8-DpRjI/AAAAAAAAA6s/BV1d-vjm9a8/s640/015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp; Not the worlds greatest picture I know, but it is a good view of my usual delivery.<br />I felt a little despondant as I drove on and continued on my round on this side of Percuil. I have to say though that my mood lightened considerably when, just a few minutes later, I saw the most amazing sight on somebodies gatepost. I don't know about anybody else but I have never seen anything like this in my life before. I had to smile.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-an5YyN0QL_g/Uncp5c1SQGI/AAAAAAAAA6k/-ptggrIfwZs/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-an5YyN0QL_g/Uncp5c1SQGI/AAAAAAAAA6k/-ptggrIfwZs/s640/010.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>What they are doing and why they are doing it...is a complete mystery to me. Very odd.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-43163565609891490132013-10-19T23:01:00.000-07:002013-11-03T20:29:35.323-08:00Chapter Eighty TwoWell its been a bit of a busy time in the last ten days. Linda's work is progressing well and she is enjoying being with her residents at the home. She is very good with people and has a natural rapport with the elderly and infirm.<br />At the same time she is slowly pushing forward with her own business and is hoping to start things moving fairly soon. The main joy for her at the moment is staying on the Roseland and not having to drive through to her old job every day.<br />They don't seem to unhappy now she has gone and there has been no contact from them since she left. I know its probably a good thing, but she hasn't even had anything sent to her that she was told had been collected for her. A strange place.<br />We paid a visit to the Eden Project the other day. It was lovely to just wander about in the sunshine without to many people being there. The equitorial dome has had some new walkways installed out over the canopy of the trees and is worth a look. They also have butterflies native to these regions that have been released into the dome as well. It is all very beautiful.<br />There also seems to be a lot of new plant growth in both domes as well.The dry dome has some new structures and features in it now. For both of us, this dome is a great reminder of our holiday in Rhodes. It is all very impressive.<br />Royal Mail has now; VERY SADLY; been sold off. The current thinking seems to be that the government undervalued it and sold it on the cheap. Certainly, the shares that I was given to keep my mouth shut, seem to have doubled in value. Let us hope in later years that the country doesn't suffer for the last thirty years of selling off the 'family jewels'.<br />I was in the lookout on Sunday and did my first opening watch. It was really good although I was a little concerned that the flag would blow away after I hoisted it. Thankfully it stayed were it was supposed to. I will say no more about the NCI at the moment as I think I will keep a seperate blog on the subject. Am making a start and will hope to publish soon.<br />Talking of publishing. A very good friend of mine has just had a book published in the last few days. Below you will see the book and it has to be a must for any old St Polycarpians to read.<br />There's even a photo of me in it so that should be good for a laugh if nothing else. <br /><table class="MS_WH_ZoneRow" style="height: 280px;"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 98%;" valign="top"><div class="MS_WH_ZoneContent" name="RadioGradientFill:RadioNoBorder|#d2d0aa:70:" style="background-image: url(&quot;/_zoneBackgroundImages/default_aspxZoneMarker1/b94d11c8-81b9-4126-8f65-6c1847b0b629.Png&quot;); background-repeat: repeat-x;"><div align="center"><span style="color: #620900;"><b>Welcome to the <br /> Farnham &amp; District Museum Society</b></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><hr /><span style="color: navy; font-size: large;"><b>Our next publication will be launched on Friday 18th October at 2pm in </b></span><b> <span class="boldarial10blue"> <span style="color: navy; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.stjoanofarcfarnham.co.uk/location.html" target="_blank"> St Joan of Arc's Centre</a>, 19 Tilford Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8DJ.</span></span></b><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"> <img align="left" border="0" height="213" src="http://www.farnhammuseumsociety.org.uk/images/St%20Polycarps%20cover.jpg" width="156" /></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">ST POLYCARP’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL </span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">The Bear Lane Years 1891 -1962</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">Written by Tricia Knight</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>&nbsp;I don't know the price of it but I am sure it will be great value for money.<br />Avery odd thing happened the other day which I just have to write about. I don't know how it happened but it was quite odd. For the last week or so I have been looking for my car keys. I was unable to find them and I searched in all the places they should have been; all the places the could have been; and all the places there was no chance they had been. I couldn't find them. I've been using my spare set ever since.<br />Linda came in from the garden and saw me poking about in the cupboard and asked me what I was doing. I mentioned my keys and said I still couldn't find them.<br />"Funny, you saying about your keys,"&nbsp; she said, "I had a dream last night that I found them in my rucksack. Now why should I dream of something as random as that? I haven't used my rucksack in the last three months."<br />Then a thought struck me and I looked at her.<br />"No", I said, "but I used mine the other week when I went to the lookout for my watch. I don't normally but I had some extra stuff to take with me."<br />I rushed upstairs to the cupboard to check...and found the keys in the side pocket of the bag.<br />We are both still amazed by all this because Linda had no idea I had used my rucksack...and I had forgotten. Weird wasn't it!!!<br />I have just spent the last three days of this week at Portscatho doing the driving duty there. It wasn't as difficult or as long as my round at St Mawes but I enjoyed myself very much. It was certainly good to catch up with some old friends again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvmEwoxicKI/UmNuC1fQBDI/AAAAAAAAA44/LiJq051JMpw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IvmEwoxicKI/UmNuC1fQBDI/AAAAAAAAA44/LiJq051JMpw/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;This was the view from Truro office on the day before I started at Portscatho. On both the Portscatho duty and the St Mawes duty I have to go into Truro to collect the mail. The Portscatho duty does the first wave and the St Mawes duty does the second. Fortunately this sunrise was on the Tuesday when I was doing the slightly later second wave. It was a beautiful sight and a lot of the blokes popped out to take a picture.<br />I have two friends in St Mawes post office who are sisters; Lauren and Mickey. Below is the picture that Lauren took from the shop doorway out across the harbour.<br />&nbsp;<img alt="" class="img" height="640" src="https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/s720x720/1394089_10202224740760652_1138900086_n.jpg" style="top: -71%;" width="640" /><br /><br />&nbsp;It has to be a lot better than mine...but doesn't it show what a beautiful world we live in.<br />Talking of a beautiful world, I have in my world a beautiful lady who I share my life with. One of my customers gave me a load of cooking apples the other day. I brought them home and peeled, cored, and cooked the lot of them. I left this enormous bowl of cooked apple in the kitchen.<br />When I got home from duty yesterday, Linda had bagged the lot of it and put it all into the freezer...except for the amount she put into a pie for me. And here is the pie she baked.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMOpK5GqEck/UmNuVIxshZI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/EvItAGHpp0o/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XMOpK5GqEck/UmNuVIxshZI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/EvItAGHpp0o/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></td> <td class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing" style="width: 1%;"></td> </tr></tbody></table><table class="MS_WH_ZoneRow"><tbody><tr><td class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing" style="width: 1%;"></td> <td style="width: 53%;" valign="top">BRILLIANT!!!</td> <td class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing" style="width: 0.25%;"><br /></td> <td style="width: 44.75%;" valign="top"><br /></td> <td class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing" style="width: 1%;"><br /></td><td class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing" style="width: 1%;"><br /></td><td class="MS_WH_ZoneSpacing" style="width: 1%;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-55229445969188355722013-10-08T22:15:00.003-07:002013-10-08T22:15:51.392-07:00Chapter Eighty oneThis has been a week of mixed fortune. All sorts of things happening; some good; some bad. Fortunately, on the whole, the bad has been outweighed.<br />The beginning of October marked the sixth anniversary of my death of my dad. It seems such a long time ago sometimes...and on other times it feels like only yesterday. I still miss him very much.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTCv_mu_nik/UlTcoZYVYzI/AAAAAAAAA4o/3suVisgNQq8/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTCv_mu_nik/UlTcoZYVYzI/AAAAAAAAA4o/3suVisgNQq8/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>From a purely selfish point of view, I wish he could still be here to witness the achievements that Fiona and Lucy have had over the last few years. To see them grow up into two talented and lovely women would have pleased him so much.<br />Again, I also think he would like to have seen the achievements that Linda and I have had as well. Dad was a great one for wanting little, except seeing his family happy. I think he would have been delighted with what my small section of his family have done.<br />Watching his other grandchildren getting on and enjoying their own lives would have pleased him as well.<br />Mum has not been to good this week and she received bad and good news from the hospital. The bad news was to tell her that her scan had revealed a shadow, indicating a mass of something, in her usual danger area. Once again she displayed her fortitude in the hands of fate and refused to let the news upset her in any way. This was proved to be the right course of action as the consultant has now confirmed that the mass has turned out to be her stomach muscle which has slipped out of place.<br />The consensus is that the muscle has been moved due to mum's continuing cough. I told her she was lucky she had never been a smoker. If as a non-smoker she has dislodged the stomach muscle...imagine what she could have achieved if she had been a smoker. She could have dislodged everything and turned herself inside out.<br />This bit of enlightened news was greeted with the words that she has an idiot for a son. I protested that Grahame shouldn't be called an idiot because of something I said...so she called me a berk.<br />How charming.<br />Linda has now completed her last week for the Alzheimers Society and was delighted to leave the company last Friday. Of course she will miss the friends she made there, including other staff members, the volunteers, and the clients.<br />However, she will not miss the antics and the nastiness caused by the trouble makers in the office. Finally getting those two people out of her hair has proved a godsend and she looks happier already.<br />She has just completed a two day induction at her new job and is enjoying the fresh challenge. It seems strange seeing her working in a uniform again, and even more strange to have her working a twelve hour day. she only has to do three or four days a week so she is happy with that. This will give her the chance to work on her own projects and hopefully get her own business up and running.<br />Work for me has been really good although last Thursday was a huge shock to the system. It didn't just rain all day...it thundered down like a monsoon. Eventually the van seat developed a puddle of water in it. Every time I sat down...I splashed. What was also a huge surprise was the following day. We were greeted with blue skies, a gentle breeze, and a warm sunny day.<br />It was like living on two different planets.<br />I have done several watches now at the lookout. The first one was a busy and sunny day and there was lots to write up. The next two watches were totally different with fog all around me. I could barely see the sea and it was all very eerie. It is still important to be there so I stayed on duty quite happily.<br />Last Sunday though, the weather turned out to be so much nicer and I could see right out to the horizon. It was a busy watch and I had a good time there. This Sunday will be my first watch that I shall open. I have only done one of those watches and that was with a mentor. This will be my first on my own.<br />I have done mid watches and last watches on my own. So getting an early watch under my belt will have me competent on them all. I want to work towards my Senior Watchkeeper status now. That will give me two bars on my epaulettes.<br />Today is is our first day off together in the midweek for some considerable time. I'm not sure what we are doing but I shall write another chapter in due course.<br /><br />Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-62862772853356507012013-09-29T10:05:00.003-07:002013-09-29T10:05:59.899-07:00Chapter EightyLinda and I had a day off last Saturday together; so we went down to St Ives. It was really nice down there. We stopped off first at Godrevy and parked opposite the light house. There is a flight of steps down to the beach. The last time we walked this beach was the last day of our coast path walk two years ago, when we wore full packs.<br />The weight then had been dire and we were glad to send the tent and stuff back. If the weather had been better it wouldn't have bothered us, but all that rain was to much. Funny how that day two years ago was the start of a week of sunshine though.<br />Anyway; the walk was a lot easier the other day, and we enjoyed the walk. We only went as far as the rocks in the centre of the beach and then turned and walked back. That was the best part of a three mile walk anyway.<br />Driving on we dropped down into Lelant Saltings and went on the 'park and ride'. The 'ride' part is on the little train into St Ives. It was good to visit there as we haven't been for a while. The harbour beach has certainly not changed since about a year or so ago. The sand has banked itself up very high. The flight of steps leading to the beach with about twelve steps in it...is now showing two steps. A couple of years ago if you wanted to climb up onto the mole with its lighthouse you either climbed a long flight of steps or a ladder bolted to the wall. Now you can just step up onto it from the beach. Amazing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJY26qA6hBY/UkhZd3gtlxI/AAAAAAAAA4I/8pWCktvvh4g/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJY26qA6hBY/UkhZd3gtlxI/AAAAAAAAA4I/8pWCktvvh4g/s640/031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We had a lovely walk around the town and a nice meal in the Union Inn. It was a good day.<br />The following day Linda turned into an 'earth mother'...and turned the kitchen into a production line for making jams and chutneys. By the evening we had pots of plum jam lined up in the kitchen as well as pots of onion chutney. The freezer is also stocked with veg and the cupboard contains bags of potatos.<br />While all this endeavour was going on I was able to keep busy before I beat a hasty rereat down to the lookout. I had the end watch and arrived in good time. The lookout resembled 'Englands Last Outpost' as it stood there hidden in the fog. At least the Union Flag was still fluttering bravely...but that was as far as I could see. <br />I took over the watch and settled in for the next few hours. Binoculars were useless and I spent most of my time listening out instead and chatting to walkers. I could not even see the sea; but I could just hear it as it broke on the rocks beneath. I felt like the captain of the Flying Dutchman, so I did some spring cleaning instead.<br />I may not have been able to see much out to sea; nor did anything happen to need my attention; but I got the floors cleaned and swept. I also got the mats beaten and the windows cleaned down. If the sun should ever shine down here...the person in the lookout will need dark glasses just because of the glare off the windows.<br />Work was a rewarding business this week with all of us working our days off. That came in handy and we are doing the same next week as well.<br />Sadly next week brings the very real threat of privatisation closer as it looks as if the Government will be selling the shares in the next few days or so. Why is it that I feel like the boy standing on the burning deck? Is there any use being defiant anymore when all around have fled?<br />I don't know, but it makes us very despondent. We even sold out ourselves and agreed to take the shares when offered. It makes something of a mockery accepting the shares and then fighting against privatisation.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-K2wcZw2KE/Ukhbtcne8sI/AAAAAAAAA4c/km3ceDwZNUw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-K2wcZw2KE/Ukhbtcne8sI/AAAAAAAAA4c/km3ceDwZNUw/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />On a lighter note, I did have fun on duty as normal, and a good chuckle the other day.<br />I was walking back to my van when I noticed a short pair of legs sticking out below the open door. Above the legs a tail was wagging. I looked around the door and spoke to the small border terrier standing with his front legs on my van seat. Immediately the tail wagged faster and his whole body shook as he looked excitedly at the tin containing the dog biscuits.<br />I opened the tin and gave him a biscuit. That was wolfed down in the blink of an eye as well. I then told him to go home...so he sat down. I took a step away to my next call...he leapt up and followed me. I told him to go home again...he sat down wagging his tail and tongue hanging out.<br />I then bent down and scooped him up into my arms...he licked my face all over before settling down for the walk home.<br />What people must have thought seeing a postman walking along the road with a pouch around his neck and a daft dog in his arms I shall never know. The dog seemed delighted and enjoyed himself very much. As I approached his house a lady with a worried expression rushed out of the front door to go looking for him. She was pleased that I had brought him home anyway.<br />To some people, being a postman is not perhaps the best job in the labour market but nobody could ever say the work is not varied. I love it!!<br />Yesterday, when I got home from work, I thought Linda looked a little tired. There is just a handful of days before she leaves her old job and starts her new one, but I think the strain is setting in. Of course there are many people that Linda will miss in her work, and who will miss her.&nbsp;<br />Its the two denizens of the 'blasted heath' with their 'hubble bubble, toil, and trouble' that she wont miss.<br />Funny how the two of them got what they wanted with Linda and are still making life awkward. I think they'll both be on their own in there before long.<br />Anyway; I digress. What I meant to say was, I took Linda out for a meal to the little pub in Tregony because she looked like needing cheering up. As usual, it was a lovely meal and it was wonderful to just both sit there and relax.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYsp_Fx_UhQ/UkhZbnTYy9I/AAAAAAAAA4A/NSfJCU2hRjI/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYsp_Fx_UhQ/UkhZbnTYy9I/AAAAAAAAA4A/NSfJCU2hRjI/s640/030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This morning on Facebook we discovered that our friends who own the pub next door to us have sold up. Nice people, they made us feel very welcome when we first came to the village. They have been good friends to us and we have enjoyed visiting the pub...especially on quiz nights. I suspect they may not stay in this area as they consider the whole world their back garden and feel at home wherever they are. We can only wish them good luck and bon voyage.<br />Linda put the guinea pigs out in the garden as usual this morning. They will soon be moving into their winter quarters( the greenhouse), but at the moment they are still in the run outside. A few minutes later I heard Linda calling to me..."Look at Widget. I put fresh food and fruit out for them both and look at her. Whiskey has his face buried into a tomato and is scoffing that...Widget has galloped straight past the food and is now eating a dead leaf that fell out of the tree and landed in the run. The mind boggles".<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--EAyc1NJq8o/UkhZAeyWxWI/AAAAAAAAA3w/s0ueG_-J3fY/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--EAyc1NJq8o/UkhZAeyWxWI/AAAAAAAAA3w/s0ueG_-J3fY/s640/007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; WIDGET<br />I never said a word, but the thought did go through my mind that..."Whiskey is a lot like me and Widget is a lot like Linda."<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; I've just noticed that Whiskey has a bald spot like mine as well. Ha ha.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qYZwX56LvA/UkhZEwaICKI/AAAAAAAAA34/AcPktTnxrgQ/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7qYZwX56LvA/UkhZEwaICKI/AAAAAAAAA34/AcPktTnxrgQ/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; WHISKEY<br />Don't tell Linda I thought that though will you?<br />I also had the mid- watch today at the lookout. Once again it was a misty day, as well as being cold and wet. Another watch under my belt now...and still nothing to be seen on the high sea's. Oh well!!! at least I'm there Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-90659234283859928162013-09-22T03:27:00.004-07:002013-09-29T08:21:42.989-07:00Chapter Seventy NineYesterday would have been my dad's 87th birthday. Still miss him a great deal. It would have been lovely to have brought him down here to Cornwall for holidays and the like. If the driving was to much, he could always have used the train or the plane.<br />It would have been good to show him around the area; I could have even taken him to the lookout.<br />We had our weeks holiday at the beginning of the month and really enjoyed ourselves. The first few days were spent down here before we took mum back home. Linda and I then stayed in the sheltered accomodation that mum lives in. They supply a double room for visitors visiting family up there. Its a lovely room and laid out very like a Travelodge or Holiday Inn place. The only thing missing is the TV.<br />Linda feels it is good for me to stay in a place like that as it gives me a taste of what it will be like when she finally puts me into a home. Charming...Oh how I laughed... saucy bat.<br />Mums nebulizer never did arrive down here and I had to get her one on loan from our surgery. When Linda chased up the delivery of the item to us the delivery company...sadly NOT Royal Mail...confirmed that the item had been delivered and signed for at our address.<br />Very odd that; especially as our home overlooks the road and mum was home all day. We all know what me mother is like. There is no way anybody is going to go by, that she wont spot. What was even more strange was the delivery man confirming to his bosses that, "Yes, I delivered the item to a bungalow in Ruan High Lanes". They took that as proof that it had been delivered to us even though Linda pointed out that we live in a 'HOUSE' in 'RUAN LANIHORNE'.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nqv5re_ZBsQ/Uj7BFnPWVgI/AAAAAAAAA3M/dDgikxCjNjE/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nqv5re_ZBsQ/Uj7BFnPWVgI/AAAAAAAAA3M/dDgikxCjNjE/s640/028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Once again excellent work from a private courier company. I know we're not perfect at Royal Mail...but we do things better than that.<br />Linda had loads of work to do at home on the Tuesday so I took mum down to St Mawes before taking her across on the ferry to the Lizard. I managed to drive right down to Lizard Point and we had coffee and dessert in the little cafe overlooking the sea. It is lovely down there and Linda and I do pop down here when we can. My Uncle Tom's ashes were scattered here by my Auntie Shirley, so it has a real meaning for me.<br />There is also a little island just around the point which is called 'MULVIN'.<br />Mum did ask a chap down there if he knew how it got the name. He had lived there all his long life and told her it had always been called mulvin, but he had no idea as to why. Our information about it being our family name from Ireland was news to him as he had never realised that mulvin was a surname.<br />He speculated that perhaps somebody of our name was washed onto it from a wreck years ago; or perhaps somebody surveying in the area had named it after himself. No nearer to finding the truth about it though.<br />The Wednesday saw us driving up to Surrey and settling in at Farnham. The few days up there went so quickly but we managed to catch up with all members of the family and that was good. We seemed to eat a lot with people this time. We had dinner with Fiona and Lucy; lunch with Katrina and Oscar; dinner with Ray and Carol; coffee with Fiona and Woody; birthday lunch with Roxanne and all the family; and finished off with dinner with Grahame and Julie.<br />It seemed to be a full week of catching up...and eating.<br />I was delighted to meet two people who are very dear to me. The first was Sandra Ellen. We bumped into her in Forest Lodge. She is an old friend of mine and it was great to catch up. I have to say she looked great as well.<br />Then a few minutes later and looking equally as good; there was my old mate Graham Bonner from Farnham Post Office. That was great to catch up with him and we had a real old chat. The rest of our rota at Farnham used to refer to us as 'The Old Farts'...or 'Statler and Waldorf' from the muppets. Charming people to work with I must say. When the Royal Mail Territorial Army unit called in to the office on a recruitment drive...even they referred to us both as 'Dad's Army'.<br />So much for any form of respect for two old work horses. Ha Ha.<br />I took a walk early one morning while up there so that I could get a couple of photos that I wanted. The first one was of a plaque that Woody was asking me about. He had seen something about it up at Westminster and mentioned it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbP41PBbD4M/Uj7A0cFufmI/AAAAAAAAA28/fDgqPzLL5GM/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbP41PBbD4M/Uj7A0cFufmI/AAAAAAAAA28/fDgqPzLL5GM/s640/021.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>&nbsp;The other thing was I picture I wanted before some clown decides to get rid of it. I managed to prevent Royal Mail ripping it off the wall about twenty years ago. The building's manager at the time came into our office and said they wanted to get rid of it. I pointed out that it had been a gift to the company by the former West Surrey College of Art and Design. I also pointed out that it was a modern art representation of the town and was completely unique. Much arguing later...he pushed off and left it alone.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XAh4SL5rGc/Uj7AjlOZSOI/AAAAAAAAA20/WKtbPeGproo/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3XAh4SL5rGc/Uj7AjlOZSOI/AAAAAAAAA20/WKtbPeGproo/s640/020.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />While up in Surrey we did do a couple of things that we were pleased with as well. We visited Susan and Dads grave and cleaned and tidied that up. We got cleaning stuff from Dyas's and bleached the grave back to cleaness again. That was a little job I had planned on a while ago. Fiona always takes flowers down there for me at Christmas , and so I try, when I'm around, to keep it clean for everyone.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--H27ZpHLUkU/Uj7APT3MZQI/AAAAAAAAA2s/cLhKuoqIpPc/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--H27ZpHLUkU/Uj7APT3MZQI/AAAAAAAAA2s/cLhKuoqIpPc/s640/013.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />We also went to Rays old yard to see the final demolition of everything. Ray has closed the business and sold the site. Its the end of an era for the family, but he felt the time was right. Sad to see it go though. I managed to get a photograph of the last sign up on the place before this bit to got knocked down.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_8tmyJmu94c/Uj7AKRbsS4I/AAAAAAAAA2k/_XXfMJK1PbU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_8tmyJmu94c/Uj7AKRbsS4I/AAAAAAAAA2k/_XXfMJK1PbU/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />On our return to Cornwall, Linda instigated the biggest change of all to our living down here. She has finally resigned from the Alzheimers society and is now just working out her four weeks notice. It is a good move for her to make as the society has not been a highlight in her working career. The job they employed her to do...she was not allowed to do for the first year as they wanted her to do admin work.<br />Then she finally got out amongst the community only to find that the more she did of her job, the more barriers got put in her way. Told to do this, or told to do that; she would do it very successfully and then be told she was basically to successful and was going beyond her remit. There comes a time when you just realise that banging your head on a brick wall is doing nothing except harming yourself.<br />Then she and a colleague fell victim to a Machiavellian volunteer who has the company ear...and it seemed best to leave. By this time the choice was quite simply...'you had better jump because we are pushing'.<br />Thankfully it has meant that Linda can now go and do exactly what she does best. She has found work in the community and has now got the chance to expand her own ideas as well. With her skills and enthusiasm she is hoping to set up her own company and devote herself too helping and caring in the worlds of dementia and alzheimers.<br />Personally, I think she will do well at it.<br />My work too is going on a pace and I am very happy at the moment. The very real threats of strikes and the even more bigger threat of being privatised is shaking Royal Mail to the core...but I am keeping my head down and rolling with the punches. I know it wont make a scrap of difference whatever I say or do, so I am just enjoying my days at St Mawes and trying to keep out of trouble.<br />The weather is still quite good at the moment and the summer is slowly turning into autumn. I walked down to Sett Bridge the other evening to see the high tide coming in. It was pretty good and the water was over the road again. What did catch me was the roar of a combine harvester bringing in the last of the harvest.<br />They have been very busy down this way and the tractors and farm machinery have been rushing around the lanes getting their work done.<br />All hours of the day and night you can hear and see the work going on. A week ago when the weather was threatening to break, they were working in the fields under lights. Everyone is doing a great job.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xHPvA5GtJwo/Uj7BMFrhP_I/AAAAAAAAA3U/UuJT39JIxBY/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xHPvA5GtJwo/Uj7BMFrhP_I/AAAAAAAAA3U/UuJT39JIxBY/s640/023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I saw this combine working in the field just behind us. It sounded like it was actually beside me, the noise was so loud. When it came into view it looked like a small house on the move. Its brilliant to see it all though. &nbsp; &nbsp; <br />&nbsp; &nbsp; Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-43017232653626095222013-09-01T22:30:00.001-07:002013-09-01T22:30:18.330-07:00Chapter Seventy EightThe weekend of the 9th of August was another special one for us. This time it was Fiona and Woody who came to stay.<br />I was on delivery in St Mawes and met up with Fiona running along the road to reach me, just outside the post office. The weather was good and it was great to see her and Woody on the quay. It didn't take long to park the van up for the weekend and join tnem in the pub. We had a good catch up before heading up to St Mawes castle for a tour around that. I would reccommend the audio tour to any visitor coming here.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">It is a lovely little castle and in the perfect place. Overlooking the Carrick Roads and Falmouth it must have been a brilliant posting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFm2TYHt2-4/UiQb-cQmQPI/AAAAAAAAA10/02MibqVpAVE/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFm2TYHt2-4/UiQb-cQmQPI/AAAAAAAAA10/02MibqVpAVE/s640/019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fiona and Woody are standing on the roof of the castle here and overlooking Falmouth. </div>Strangely enough; it is a quarter the size of Falmouth Castle; overlooked by high ground; and must have had&nbsp; less chance of survival...yet it was never taken. The castle at Falmouth was taken a couple of times; notably by the Spanish; but they failed at St Mawes.<br />Spanish records of the time, even say, 'not to' attempt to take St Mawes castle. They considered it a tough little place to attack and preferred the easier target of Falmouth. I love the history of it all. We spent some time mooching around the castle and the grounds before heading back home.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKOxy2ZGwgw/UiQbm5tMIVI/AAAAAAAAA1s/qScTN5dUPKw/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKOxy2ZGwgw/UiQbm5tMIVI/AAAAAAAAA1s/qScTN5dUPKw/s640/018.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It is a lovely place to have a castle and I would have loved a posting there during any war. <br />Dinner at Tregony to follow, and a good day all around.<br />The following day was very different as regards the weather. Dull and cloudy, with a fair bit of rain. We went walking at Portscatho and I took all three of them to the lookout. We had intended to walk along to Carne beach but the rain poured down.<br />We returned to the Hidden Hut instead and bought pasties and coffee. Then the sun came out. We walked back to the car and drove around to Carne and walked there instead. We had a nice walk and chat together before heading back to Ruan Lanihorne for the village fete. That was fun with a lot to see...but the rain poured down again.<br />I ended up doing the BBQ under the huge umbrella that normally sits over the table. It was fun though.<br />Sunday arrived so quickly and the kids had to head back up-country.<br />We all had time to go to the Tregony Heavy Horse Show before they left though.<br />It was very good there as always and we enjoyed the walk about the place. We saw Nick and Derek on the NCI stall. Hard to believe it was just a year ago today that I took the paperwork and joined the NCI.<br />All too soon the two of them had to leave. They decided to call into Mevagissey on the way home. We popped on to the allotment...and a lovely weekend was over.<br />A couple of days later I got a surprise phone call on delivery to let me know that an old friend of mine was down from Surrey. Mick Yuill was down for a week at Looe and he had popped over to St Mawes to find me.<br />It was brilliant to see him and we had a good old 'catch-up' outside the St Mawes Hotel. Between the two of us we've had over ninety years service to Royal Mail. There was lots to talk about. The scary thing was discovering the amount of blokes we'd worked with who have now passed away. A lot of good memories were brought up though and I really enjoyed his visit.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0USWa4nAQ8/UiQbgdz8bkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/v5ohecYYww8/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0USWa4nAQ8/UiQbgdz8bkI/AAAAAAAAA1k/v5ohecYYww8/s640/011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Linda has been to a few gigs with her 'Samba' Band. I met up with her and her mates over at Tintagel. The drumming is really very good and Linda enjoys herself very much. This time they not only played several static sessions, they also marched in the procession as well. It looked great fun and its nice to see Linda doing something a little frivolous. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RdP-qqYin9c/UiQbXA7CXbI/AAAAAAAAA1c/XattIU0s0kk/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RdP-qqYin9c/UiQbXA7CXbI/AAAAAAAAA1c/XattIU0s0kk/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The next weekend saw the house being turned into something resembling 'Doris Archers' kitchen. Being married to Linda is like being married to the fictional Doris. The house and garden were all tidied and sorted out; the allotment had been given a harvesting; and the house was full of fruit and veg being preserved and cooked.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vbov_VEwZps/UiQcJfJnZ5I/AAAAAAAAA18/5tkda0FZsig/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vbov_VEwZps/UiQcJfJnZ5I/AAAAAAAAA18/5tkda0FZsig/s640/024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The shelves are gradually filling up with chutneys and jams; the freezers are filling up with assorted veg and soups;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liRzy2jNZ5s/UiQcOqNw4CI/AAAAAAAAA2E/u3LWauxMoWo/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-liRzy2jNZ5s/UiQcOqNw4CI/AAAAAAAAA2E/u3LWauxMoWo/s640/026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>the shed is filling up with trays of onions and bags of potato's; and I am filling up with home made and home grown food.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hlhp7EcONs8/UiQcecnilDI/AAAAAAAAA2M/_QdTNbTHeh8/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hlhp7EcONs8/UiQcecnilDI/AAAAAAAAA2M/_QdTNbTHeh8/s640/027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Linda has taught herself how to plait and string the onions and garlic so that they can hang down and stay dry. I'm thinking of buying her a beret and sending her out on a pushbike to sell some of the onions herself. A little cornish madamoiselle onion seller.<br />Linda even finds time to put together some bunches of flowers and sell them up at the local farm shop.<br />Sunday 18th August was a 'red-letter' day for me.<br />Today I did my first watch on my own as a qualified watch keeper. I had the mid-watch and I could not have been more proud. It was fairly busy as the weather was good and I enjoyed myself very much. Funny how so many things are coming together for me at the moment. I feel very lucky.<br />August bank holiday brought us a houseful of folk. Therese and Becky came down with Eliza for the weekend. They also brought mum with them and she will be staying with us until we go back up-country on our holiday.<br />Linda and I both have a week off from the 1st of September and will take mum back home mid week. The house was full and it was great fun.<br />It took them a long time to get down on Friday because of the holiday traffic, and they didn't arrive until&nbsp; midnight. Good to see them all though.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAtJeAJEskg/UiQciWqiWII/AAAAAAAAA2U/M0XNjqBuntM/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aAtJeAJEskg/UiQciWqiWII/AAAAAAAAA2U/M0XNjqBuntM/s640/028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This little chap appeared on one of Linda's tubs out in the garden. There is a fairly substantial, although discreetly hidden, population of Stick Insects on the Roseland. I found a dead one over in Portscatho last year. This is one of the more common varieties and it was alive and well and munching on Linda's daisies.<br /><br />The following day I was working at Portscatho. It was a very busy day as Tim was off sick and Ellie needed her day off. At the same time the Portscatho Regatta was taking place. A really good fun day and I felt very much part of the local scene.<br />Sunday was spent visiting the market at Par before a long gentle laze around out in the garden. We did do a BBQ though and that was fun. Monday was equally as laid back and we all enjoyed being together before Therese, Becky, and Eliza headed home.<br />The weather seems to have settled into a dry patch this summer and we've taken advantage of a lot of that.<br />I got into work on Tuesday and was given a nice surprise. After two years down here I have finally been offered a permanent contract with Royal Mail.<br />No matter what work I do down here, my contract with Royal Mail is my main contract. I have just spent two years on a temporary 10 hour a week contract...now it is up to a permanent 20 hour a week contract. Good news if I decide to stay. The future is still a little up in the air at the moment.<br />It certainly is for Linda at present. A volunteer at her work has been making life very difficult for her. Nasty accusations and a lot of spite has resulted in Linda questioning her own worth and re-evaluating her position. Although the accusations have been proved false it has left a nasty taste in the mouth. I really wish Linda would just leave there.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPr8YCllgwM/UiQZss4vPyI/AAAAAAAAA08/LaOpenJNXQU/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WPr8YCllgwM/UiQZss4vPyI/AAAAAAAAA08/LaOpenJNXQU/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Mum came with me when I visited the lookout to put my name forward for three watches. She managed the walk across to the point and sat in the lookout with me and enjoyed the view. At least she has an idea now of were I am and what I'm doing when I talk about it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpTfNwafQAA/UiQZbAl2tOI/AAAAAAAAA00/zn7g4REicX4/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpTfNwafQAA/UiQZbAl2tOI/AAAAAAAAA00/zn7g4REicX4/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I took mum up towards Looe on my day off this week. As a surprise I took her to see the Woolly Monkey Rescue Centre. It is a brilliant place which cares for several different breeds of monkey that have been rescued.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvoLv2o4jo4/UiQaZJ3Gl2I/AAAAAAAAA1U/ec26OAHPZRI/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvoLv2o4jo4/UiQaZJ3Gl2I/AAAAAAAAA1U/ec26OAHPZRI/s640/013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>There is a lot of room for the animals to live quite naturally and it is a beautiful location.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoD6RbXYKbI/UiQaQ7voxYI/AAAAAAAAA1E/d_XgVhozozI/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WoD6RbXYKbI/UiQaQ7voxYI/AAAAAAAAA1E/d_XgVhozozI/s640/007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Mum has become very fond of watching programmes about the monkeys so I thought she would enjoy a visit to here. She had a great time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gp-XIIF8q6E/UiQaX41o15I/AAAAAAAAA1M/xZmCw3GcWtQ/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gp-XIIF8q6E/UiQaX41o15I/AAAAAAAAA1M/xZmCw3GcWtQ/s640/011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />By the weekend however a problem had developed for mum. Her nebulizer is not working as it should do and a spare part is needed. Much to-ing and fro-ing on Saturday; including a visit to Treliske has not produced any favourable results.<br />It is now 05-30 on Monday morning and I am waiting before I head off to try and sort things out. Either the part she needs will be waiting at Truro Royal Mail...or it means a visit to the Probus surgery.<br />Still, who cares, its the first day of our weeks holiday and I am looking forward to the break.&nbsp; &nbsp; Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-64391551330206178272013-08-31T22:56:00.000-07:002013-08-31T22:56:15.790-07:00Chapter Seventy SevenLife is good down here at present and we are enjoying ourselves. We had a visit yesterday from Derek and Sam from up country. It was good to see them both again and we had a good old chat. Derek got me up to speed on some of the things going on at Farnham. I can only say how much I miss being part of the workplace up there. I miss my work mates in the office almost as much as I miss my family.<br />It was good seeing the big man again and we all had a laugh together. However; Derek did pick me up on one thing...and he was quite correct. Fiona and Lucy have picked me up on it as well. I am not keeping up to speed on this blog as much as I should. I shall try and correct that.<br />Work has been very busy at the moment with the first signs of Christmas in the air. Not bad when its still the summer holidays. We are delivering more and more packets at the moment and that is a good Christmas indicator. Normally they start increasing in September as people start getting gifts and stuff bought on line. This year it has come in a month earlier.<br />Its probably due to the amount of charity magazines and catalogues coming through. All of them are pushing Christmas. I have had three catalogues addressed to me showing Christmas cards and gift ideas. It does seem odd delivering stuff with Santa Claus on the front cover and a snow scene, especially when I am stood, basking in summer sunshine, with sparkly sea around me and people in swimwear sitting on the beach. <br />I had an unusual day at work the other day. Firstly, I was asked if I could drop off a registered item to a friend of mine on the Roseland. It was no problem as I was heading out that way anyway...but it was something different. Secondly, two hours later I was helping a lady herd three small cows along a lane. The daft perishers had made a run for it so I got out of my van and was able to stop them. That was fun herding them back along until we could put them back in her field.<br />Then thirdly, a small boy met me in a garden and told me his granny had fallen on the floor. I investigated and found the lady on the floor and unable to get back up. She was alright but just not strong enough to get back on her feet. I was able to help and got her up and sitting on a stool in no time at all.<br />It was an unusual day and I felt like a story in Postman Pat.<br /><br />Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-42251959595763813512013-08-06T10:57:00.002-07:002013-08-06T10:57:43.405-07:00Chapter Seventy SixThis month has shown us the Cornwall that everyone dreams about. We have had several weeks of clear skies; blue seas; hot sunshine; and extreme heat. This is the Cornwall I used to dream of when working back in Farnham. It has been stunning.<br />The only down side to the weather has been the lethargy that has come with it. Two writing sessions produced a heap of work...and all of it such gibberish I threw it away. I have also felt tired and even a little old at times...a good sign that the heat is getting to me.<br />But it has also been incredible watching the world go by in St Mawes, and seeing the cornish countryside and beaches relax into summer mode.<br />You may have guessed that the only person in the whole country who seems least affected by the heat is Linda. As the rest of us have slipped into lethargy and relaxation, Linda has turned into a human whirlwind of activity. The garden is blooming like a small paradise in its own right and the allotment has become a cornucopia of veggies, fruits, and flowers. I grant you that most of this is done by mother nature...but without Linda's help, nature would have let herself down.<br />The well at home is pumped both morning and evening so that Linda can water everything. She whirls around the garden, watering cans pouring, before attacking any weeds foolish enough to grow in her borders. With secataurs flickering, she 'deadheads' and trims the plants; she has even taken over lawn mowing duties. It would be dangerous to sit to long in the garden when she hurtles by. You would find yourself trimmed, tidied, and possible planted in a corner of the garden as she watered you in.<br />The allotment has become like a food basket and she does a daily harvest. At the moment it is spuds, carrots, peas, beans, and courgettes which are filling our freezer and storage spaces. She is even giving some surplus away to the neighbours.<br />The farm shop has been selling small bunches of her flowers for the last month as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFZvRlCufts/UgE2A6vwkNI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/DkDrOZ82c_E/s1600/July+2013+%2835%29.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DFZvRlCufts/UgE2A6vwkNI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/DkDrOZ82c_E/s640/July+2013+%2835%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before<br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5K_K8n1d4tw/UgE2b3wfrsI/AAAAAAAAA0g/RFhvlkSbs2c/s1600/July+2013+%2837%29.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5K_K8n1d4tw/UgE2b3wfrsI/AAAAAAAAA0g/RFhvlkSbs2c/s640/July+2013+%2837%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; After<br /><br />&nbsp;At the same time as this is going on, Linda is also holding down a fulltime job; caring for the two guinea pigs; volunteering to walk peoples dogs; playing in her samba band; doing extra work helping people with dementia; and according to her...looking after me and the house.<br />We did have a couple of family visits as well this month which was great fun. We had Lucy and Jon down as you would remember and had a great time with both of them. That was at the end of May. Now in quick succession we have had Katrina, Kevin, and Oscar down for a week, and two days after they left, Lindas mum came to stay for a few days. She was brought down by Jayson and Tracey.<br />The day Katrina came down was a Saturday. This was the day my 'Cam chain'??? went in my van and it stopped working. I could not have been further from civilisation when it happened...and I was out of signal area.<br />It meant abandoning the van and walking almost a mile up to the main road; it was a blistering day. After phonecalls to Royal Mail and the RAC, I settled in at the end of the lane with a book to await the outcome. Fortunately one of the managers got out to me within an hour and gave me his van. He then waited at the end of the lane for the RAC pickup. This was midday; he was towed past me later on at 1530. Needless to say I was late home as well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QjG9GkxTQD4/UgE2Z4qMzZI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/8o88dhcicmU/s1600/Postman+Liam.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="588" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QjG9GkxTQD4/UgE2Z4qMzZI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/8o88dhcicmU/s640/Postman+Liam.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Oscar has grown into a proper little boy now and it was a delight having him around the house. Most of their holiday was spent going out and enjoying Cornwall but we got to see them all in the evenings. It made for a lovely week and we all had a good time. I got a great kick out of hearing Oscar call me Grandpa.<br />Somehow he turned the house into an extension of himself, but never caused any problems. The lovely thing for me was when he would come to me and have a chat. Some youngsters can be a bit wary of people but he was quite happy to hold my hand and go for a walk; or to ride on my shoulders; or even to just watch what I was doing. I had a great time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FuUjUJXfo5g/UgE1SfJIzxI/AAAAAAAAAz8/b_XWWCAhxDg/s1600/July+2013+%2827%29.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FuUjUJXfo5g/UgE1SfJIzxI/AAAAAAAAAz8/b_XWWCAhxDg/s640/July+2013+%2827%29.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This certainly seemed the best spot for him to sit and play. He had great fun and enjoyed getting dirty. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dv2vSLtXHGA/UgE1q_J1G-I/AAAAAAAAA0I/ZMnBktlSUEY/s1600/July+2013+%2833%29.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dv2vSLtXHGA/UgE1q_J1G-I/AAAAAAAAA0I/ZMnBktlSUEY/s640/July+2013+%2833%29.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;Here he is helping carry stuff off the beach. I was impressed with the fact he was prepared to help out.</div>No sooner had they gone home than Brenda arrived for a few days. Jayson brought her down to stay with us, and he and Tracey stayed at a small B&amp;B. It was the first time we had met Tracey and we thought she was lovely.<br />Again, both Linda and I were at work, but we both managed to get one day off with Brenda and we took her to Looe. It was a scorching day and Looe really looked at its best. We had a nice walk around and enjoyed ourselves. Brenda used to go there on holidays, years ago when she was little. She enjoyed her walk down memory lane.<br />I had some sad news as well through facebook when I heard that an old friend of mine had died. Barely sixty he collapsed and died from a heart attack. Robert Breare; a bit of a maverick, but also an utterly charming man. He was Susies ex husband and father to the three boys. As it said in his obituary...he could be exasperating; yet you couldn't help liking him. I shall miss him.<br />Something of a shock as well when my 59th birthday dawned bright and clear. Its that sudden realisation that the next one is the 60th. Still, I don't worry or care to much. We had a check up and medical test at work recently and I was told that although I am 59...my metabolic age is only 43. So long as I remember that I am a 43 year old with 59 year old parts I should be fine. HA HA.<br />For some reason I decided to wash my mail van. It was absolutely filthy but I am not known for bothering to clean vans. I can see why now. Every bump and scrape has now appeared in glorious gleaming silver against the red paintwork. Most of these are not mine, and most of them were on it when I got it. It has to be said though that it looks pretty bad.<br />I did do something else in the last few days that surprised me.<br />Most people who know me will understand how much I hate being tested on anything. I really don't like being watched when I'm working. That I can do what I am supposed to be doing is not an issue. The problem is the old one of having no self confidence. Both Fiona and Lucy brought out my confidence as a dad and I love them for it; I found my own confidence at Royal Mail by hiding behind the uniform; and Linda has encouraged me in self confidence with my life today.<br />I just let myself down by being doubtful.<br />Having said all that, I realised the other day that I am holding myself back with the NCI. To test myself, I spent a couple of hours in the lookout over the two afternoons that we are closed and did my own unofficial watches. At the end I realised that I can do the job and need to be assessed.<br />I e mailed my mentor, Bob, and told him I felt ready to give it a go.<br />The upshot was that last Sunday found me in a state of complete panic as I made my way to my assessment with the station manager, Patrick. I was as prepared as I could be. I had my watch preparation in my bag, I knew what to do, and I was up to speed with my competencies...yet still I was nervous, and still I was doubtful.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FNJN8diJl0/UgE0bhajl4I/AAAAAAAAAz4/HEtAgG6V0s0/s1600/10+05+2013+Porthscatho+Lookout+%25288%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4FNJN8diJl0/UgE0bhajl4I/AAAAAAAAAz4/HEtAgG6V0s0/s640/10+05+2013+Porthscatho+Lookout+%25288%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So you can imagine my delight, when just before the end of the watch, Patrick handed over my new epaulettes with bar and congratulated me on passing my assessment. I was really pleased and even more so when he pushed the volunteer watch bill at me so that I could pick my first solo watch. I will be on duty on the 18th August on the mid-watch. Really pleased.<br />This has been a huge thing for me and I am delighted to have qualified. Slowly, all the things I ever had on my 'dream list' have come true over the last few years. The walks I wanted to do; the trips to Ireland I wanted to make; the stories I wanted to write; the classes I have been to; my writing which has been published; and most importantly, moving to the coast. All these have been achieved.<br />Number two on my list; which was second only to being the father of two daughters; was to end up as a lifeboatman, or coastguard, or cliff rescue, or anything to do with saving lives at sea. Now I am in the NCI and I could not be more happier.<br />Yes there are still more things on my 'dream list'. Some I can achieve; some I cannot; whatever, they are my dreams and this is one of them.<br />I am now.............. An 'NCI Watch Keeper'. &nbsp; Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-62258184333464691562013-07-01T02:32:00.001-07:002013-07-01T02:32:49.136-07:00Chapter Seventy FiveLife is pretty good for us at the moment. If I have any fears at all it is that I may not get the job at St Mawes in the new re-sign. That takes place sometime about the end of July. Ideally I would like to have the St Mawes driving duty. It is just like my old job at Bentley. It keeps me busy...and I have some lovely customers. I love it.<br />If I don't get that job then I shall hold out for the relief job out there. That would give me three duties at St Mawes and two at Portscatho to do. I would enjoy that as well. It is all in the lap of the Gods at the moment. I have asked that they take my 39 years from Farnham office into account on the seniority picking but I don't know of a result to that question yet. I lost everything from Royal Mail when we moved down here. Nothing acknowledged at all. It was as if those 39 years had never existed. Hopefully they will allow me that one small thing.<br />Linda took some 'action' photos of me at the lookout. It was a lot of fun and I sent them off to the Courier. If I appear at all it will be in the July edition.<br />This is me in my 'Heroic figure at the Helm pose'. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSG60w9n56A/UdE5T10-emI/AAAAAAAAAyw/IE3srsnH30Q/s1600/10+05+2013+Porthscatho+Lookout+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSG60w9n56A/UdE5T10-emI/AAAAAAAAAyw/IE3srsnH30Q/s640/10+05+2013+Porthscatho+Lookout+(6).JPG" width="640" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seriously though I enjoy it very much and can't wait to stand my own watches as a qualified Coast Watcher. I should be qualified before the end of the summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Royal Mail in its collective wisdom sent me on a First Aid course for three days. It was great fun and I learnt a lot. A really good course and with a selection of people of all ranks and all functions taking part. I made some new friends and also found out that I will still have a job after the re-sign. They can't guarantee the job...but I will still have a job. The only down sides is that it might not be the job I would love...and it will probably only be thirty hours. It is a bit of security though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like the rest of the country Linda and I are having to be very careful in watching the pennies. I don't get my half pension for another year so things are a little tight. But as a result of these straightened times, I am now back in the swing with my writing and enjoying that once again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have Linda to thank for her encouragement; and also young Paula and Sarah who are the other two people in our writing group. The three of us spend two hours a week writing together. Its a real support and encourages all three of us to 'put pen to paper'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Linda's office was involved in a bomb incident the other day and she could not get into her work. As far as we understand a domestic incident went completely out of control and ended up with a man sitting in a vehicle that he had turned into a bomb on wheels.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thankfully, common sense prevailed and the chap was taken into custody. Unfortunately it took the morning to make it safe and the afternoon for forensics to do their job. We live in strange times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Linda has been collecting bits of driftwood off the beach at Carne. She seems keen to make things from the driftwood and perhaps sell some in a craft market. Perhaps she can sell some of those and I can put some of my books up for selling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">YES YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have so many books now that I will never read again and so many books that I only hang onto for the sake of avarice. Of course there are books I would never sell, but a lot of them really have to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Life is good though and things are proceeding nicely. Linda is still playing in her Samba band and has appeared at several gigs already this summer. Dressed in her red and white she looks really good. I haven't been able to see her play this year yet as it is normally on a Saturday when I am at work. I shall get along in due course and will post a couple of photos of her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I must just tell you about her allotment and the garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mainly success at the allotment. One or two things have struggled a little bit with wind burn and so on, but on the whole it is going well. Lucy gave Linda some oddly coloured veg seeds for Christmas. Linda planted these and they are growing well. We shall soon be eating 'purple' carrots would you believe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However the 'rainbow' Chard is ready for picking as are the potatos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other day she came back to the house with a large box of spuds...and some of the most colourful chard I have ever seen. Normally it is just green but this plant grew green, red, and yellow. Well done Lucy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;Very tasty though and looked good on the plate. I'm not so nervous about the purple carrots now. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzIwDDt_4Xo/UdFFOiNZDZI/AAAAAAAAAzg/UN35rTxvTOY/s1600/014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzIwDDt_4Xo/UdFFOiNZDZI/AAAAAAAAAzg/UN35rTxvTOY/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;Linda has also worked wonders in the garden and made a brilliant display of the borders and the tubs. When we came here the main border had barely anything in it ...yet look at it now. The same applies to the bit of lawn just outside our kitchen window.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Linda has tubbed that and allowed the plants to grow up through the wall surrounding the lawn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUW2woR9FJ0/UdFE8MR8dHI/AAAAAAAAAzA/UGc2UcHIYng/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hUW2woR9FJ0/UdFE8MR8dHI/AAAAAAAAAzA/UGc2UcHIYng/s640/003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fL3-5BIl_Ec/UdFFF_NkbUI/AAAAAAAAAzM/lrZNBmnmKc4/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fL3-5BIl_Ec/UdFFF_NkbUI/AAAAAAAAAzM/lrZNBmnmKc4/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;It does look a lot more colourful than this on bright sunny days but I think you will get a good idea of it.<br />The next view of the garden shows two of our pheasants. There is about six of them that come into the garden...but never together. The three males are always fighting each other and trying to steal the other males mates. However they seem very tame with us and are happy to be in the garden when we are out there. They will peck grain out of your hand...but it does hurt. You only do it once. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vn15ZTRfcc/UdFFFosYFaI/AAAAAAAAAzI/hH5L8EttYCc/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Vn15ZTRfcc/UdFFFosYFaI/AAAAAAAAAzI/hH5L8EttYCc/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the old wall and front side border of the garden. The small birch bird box in the centre of the wall provided a nest for a family of blue tits this year. They have all fledged and the lot of them have fled the nest. One of the lower boxes got its plants damaged when a badger pulled it down onto himself. Above are the hanging baskets which are now hanging up there for the second year.<br />Somehow, the screws I put in are still holding.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8_VYdMysdIs/UdFFOaJCejI/AAAAAAAAAzc/2mlwQg4P6Zc/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8_VYdMysdIs/UdFFOaJCejI/AAAAAAAAAzc/2mlwQg4P6Zc/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />There has been good news about some of our friends from down here.<br />Matt and Larrissa got engaged while they were away on holiday. They are two of the crowd from the quiz nights. A really nice couple it is good to see things gouing so well for them. We all met up for a little party over at the pub and it was great fun.<br />At the party as well was Brian. He is a great character and one of the nicest people you could wish to meet. He recently suffered a stroke but you would barely realise it. With a constant smile and a fund of stories he is back in circulation and full of life. Good to see him.<br />Next door Gary and Jeanette are back from their holiday and once more back into the swing of things. We looked after their cat 'Magic' for a fortnight while they were away. Gary has been working hard on his studio and I was in there the other day. It looks fantastic. I may ask him for a quiet corner to write in.<br />Our other snippet of news concerned a good friend of mine called Claire. She and Neal are expecting a baby in December. This was wonderful news for all of us from the old gang at Farnham&nbsp; and it was good to hear.<br />Thats about it at present. Looking forward to seeing Katrina, Kevin and Oscar down here in a weeks time. Then Linda's mum will be with us for a couple of days, along with Jayson and Tracy.<br />Hopefully at some time my mum will pop down and visit for a while nd we are also looking forward to seeing Fiona and Woody during the summer as well. That should be in August.<br />I have entered some work into some competitions and I will let you know how they got on. Both poetry and writing competitions this time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzIwDDt_4Xo/UdFFOiNZDZI/AAAAAAAAAzg/UN35rTxvTOY/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;</div>Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-81242078971907068982013-06-09T05:20:00.000-07:002013-07-01T00:56:41.745-07:00Chapter Seventy FourThe weather is still good at the moment so on Sunday (26th May) we decided to go walking on Bodmin Moor. It is very beautiful up there and reminded us of the Coast to Coast walk we did on the Yorkshire Moors.<br />We started at the little village of St Breward and and headed off to Brown Willy. This is the highest point of Cornwall and well worth climbing up to. There is a fairly longish walk across the moor which goes past King Arthurs Hall. This is an enclosed neolithic area which must have been a meeting place at one time. A fascinating place.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iin5vQ5xe3E/UbRwWRTvujI/AAAAAAAAAyA/Dcmuyj5MOVw/s1600/01-06-13+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iin5vQ5xe3E/UbRwWRTvujI/AAAAAAAAAyA/Dcmuyj5MOVw/s640/01-06-13+012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It is very bleak up there as regards seeing anything human, but very rich in its nature and wildlife. We found old farm buildings and even buildings still in use, but very little of humankind. This all changed when we started the climb up through the rocks to the trig point.<br />More and more people started to appear until the place was beginning to resemble 'Piccadilly Circus'. By the time we got to the top and had a good look around...all became clear. Down below us on the other side of the hill was a footpath leading to a road and a carpark.<br />We preferred our way of getting there though.<br />On our way we had crossed a couple of small rivers; deep flowing water as clear as crystal; walked through a small secret wood; and also passed a couple of very old farm buildings which had been turned into isolated holiday cottages...we would have seen none of this if we had driven up by car and just walked up the footpath.<br />We had to laugh though on top of Brown Willy. We stopped up there for our sandwiches and flasks. We decided to eat at the highest point as normal. We don't like to eat and then carry on climbing...sooner rest and eat before climbing back downwards.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9vOs1fs4w2U/UbRwco-D_8I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/rf72_Ey_L8U/s1600/01-06-13+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9vOs1fs4w2U/UbRwco-D_8I/AAAAAAAAAyQ/rf72_Ey_L8U/s640/01-06-13+014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The highest point of any of these places is normally the trig point. This time somebody had built a cairn beside the trig point...and they made it a good foot taller. Then to cap it all...somebody put a skull on top of it. Great fun and a good laugh.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6bISqvuTEY/UbRwYyTZ-cI/AAAAAAAAAyI/UnS41fFYssA/s1600/01-06-13+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6bISqvuTEY/UbRwYyTZ-cI/AAAAAAAAAyI/UnS41fFYssA/s640/01-06-13+015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sadly there was also evidence of the scale of the bad winter and bitter cold spring that we have had. In several places we found the remains of sheep that must have been caught out on the moors when it snowed late this year. Some groups still looked as if they had died huddled together in the blizzards. Very sad.<br />We then climbed back down and walked across and up onto a place called Rough Tor. This place has been given to the nation as a living memorial to men of the 45th Wessex Regiment who fought across Europe from Normandy to Berlin.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRU8CsTQSIE/UbRwo6CINEI/AAAAAAAAAyY/Dhr071AWMsY/s1600/01-06-13+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRU8CsTQSIE/UbRwo6CINEI/AAAAAAAAAyY/Dhr071AWMsY/s640/01-06-13+016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It was quite a long walk back to the car and we were tired when we got there. Thank goodness the next day was the Spring Bank Holiday because we slept for twelve hours that night.<br />The Monday showed a complete 180 degree turn in the weather. Iwas on duty at the lookout with Bob and the weather closed in completely. Very wet and very windy...it teemed down. I'm glad we walked yesterday.<br />I have got Tuesday off this week as my day off so I don't go back uintil Wednesday...then next week we are on a weeks holidays of our own.<br />We also made our first tentative steps into the world of skypeing and made our first call to Katrina, Kevin , and Oscar. Great fun although Oscar was a little bit surprised to see 'Grandma and Grandpa' on the telly.<br />I kept up with Fiona on facebook all this week while she and Woody have been up on Skye. They never cease to amaze me. Woody took part in another marathon up there and completed it in a personal best time. It certainly impresses me.<br />Fiona also posted several pictures of herself and Woody during the week. In one of them she is dressed in dungarees...and milking a cow. She was fixing the cups to the cows teats and working happily in the milking parlour. That really impressed me.<br />They also climbed a 'munro', which I have always wanted to do, plus she ate mussels and oysters which I have NEVER wanted to do. Fair play though... all the kids seem to give things a go...and it impresses the life out of me.<br />Our holiday started on a very hot and sweltering day on the Saturday afternoon (1st June) and continued that way for the whole week. It has been absolutely brilliant and we have really been very idle. I think we both needed it.Gary and Jeanette have gone on holiday to France for a couple of weeks so we are looking after their place. Most important of all; we are looking after 'Magic'. A black cat who is lovely. I get to feed him twice a day...he graciously allows me to so long as I remain his humble servant and 'know my place'.<br />We also had these great plans to go walking and visit a few places. We didn't do any of that much at all.<br />I just had to publish this picture for you to see. A really nice chap on my delivery has prepared a mass of wood ready for next winter. This is the wood stack he made which will stay dry and ready for the winter months. Brilliant isn't it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WK4iZbsxwPI/UbRwpzzcbZI/AAAAAAAAAyg/Ee5dbDxE2IU/s1600/01-06-13+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WK4iZbsxwPI/UbRwpzzcbZI/AAAAAAAAAyg/Ee5dbDxE2IU/s640/01-06-13+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><u>Sunday 2cnd.</u><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I went to the lookout for a duty watch with Bob...Linda went to her allotment. It looks so professional up there; she really is a wonder. All is laid out and there is stuff growing everywhere. Most impressive. I helped out by filling her water butt for her...that was enough for me.<br /><u>Monday 3rd.</u><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Linda and I spent 45 minutes walking around the village delivering the Roseland Magazine. That was fun, and by 10-30m we were sitting on the beach at Towan and getting burnt by the sun. Later that afternoon we cycled across to St Michael Penkevil to see the old ferry place opposite Malpas. Great fun and we saw a baby badger waddling along the road. We also saw Brian who has not been well. He had a bit of a stroke but is getting about again. A lovely man...glad he's looking and feeling better.<br /><u>Tuesday 4th.</u><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Linda had an appointment with the dentist at Tregony before once more heading up to the allotment. We then seemed to spend the rest of the day lying out in the garden in the sun loungers.<br /><u>Wednesday 5th.</u><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; I got some work done with my writing and sent off several pieces for competitions. Linda, needless to say spent the morning up at the allotment. She has the garden looking lovely and the allotment is all she has to use her energy on at the moment. We had a meeting at the NCI this evening that went well.<br /><u>Thursday 6th.</u><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Today we went into Truro. There was an exhibition of aircraft in Lemon Quay. We got to see a replica of the Spitfire flown by 'Johnnie' Johnson during the Battle of Britain. There was also the little plane that was buiklt by pupils at a Truro school and then flown over Truro some forty years ago. There was also a replica of the plane that some people still think of as the first 'heavier than air' aircraft to fly under its own power. This was by a cornish chap who flew his plane several months before the Wright Brothers...but never recorded much about it. A good day out though. I also got a haircut and Linda got some shopping. We then both bought the weeks shopping before returning back to the garden again.<br /><u>Friday 7th.</u><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; We spent today at the Royal Cornwall Show up near Wadebridge. A huge event and very good to see. A scorching hot day and we enjoyed ourselves although we both ended up with headaches. Hard to believe that last year it was cancelled in parts because of the bad storms and blizzards and the like. We had a good day but were glad to get back home.<br /><u>Saturday 8th.</u><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Another day of not much done at all. We had decided to go form a good walk but were awoken at 06-00 to an almighty thunderstorm of ferocious rain and bleakness. We cancelled the walk and an hour later the sun came out. We nipped across to Veryan before going to Carne Beach. Linda was after more driftwood and I collected up any plastic junk and glass bottles for the re-cycling.<br />We had such a good time that, after going home for breakfast, we headed back out to the beach again and loafed around there for six hours.&nbsp; Great fun.<br /><u>Sunday 9th.</u><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once again Linda has gone up to the allotment. She enjoys the therapy of it and it keeps her focussed on things other than her work. I have managed to catch up with my blog and such like. I have been sending in two pieces of work a week now to the Western Morning News for a couple of months. Thirty pieces now and all published. Another thirty pieces and I will try and put the lot into a book.<br />I pick up my van this evening for work tomorrow. At the same time, Linda and I are going to the lookout so that Linda can take a couple of photos of me for the Courier magazine. They want some 'action' pictures for a small feature they are doing on me. Should be a laugh.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-30999471327427673532013-06-06T00:32:00.000-07:002013-06-09T05:21:26.480-07:00Chapter Seventy ThreeWe seemed to have the very last of the extreme bad weather in the west country just before Lucy and Jon came down. Snow fell on various parts of the country including near us. Bodmin Moor saw some snow , as did parts of Devon. We even had a snow shower down with us for a few moments but nothing settled. It was in the rain more than anything else.<br />Not what you really expect for the middle of May!!!<br />Thursday the 16th was an unusual day though in more ways than one. The county awoke to frost, which was followed by hail and a light dusting of snow which promptly faded away during the day. It was lovely though were we were and this continued throughout the day. Very localised though. It got very dark at St Mawes and finally rained a bit over the lunchtime. I got home (10 miles away) to find it had been lovely all day. In fact it was so dry I was able to mow the lawns. Linda was at work just the other side of Truro (also 10 miles away) and it had rained and drizzled for most of the day.<br />Those distances are as the crow flies...but still very odd.<br />Linda went to bed without waking me as I had an early sleep that evening. I got up at 22-45 and headed off to St Austell.<br />Yay...I went to collect Lucy and Jon from the train. They are down with us for a long weekend and we are looking forward to having them with us. Their train came in at 23-35 and I got them safely home by just after midnight.<br />Linda and I both had to work on the Friday but then we to, would have the weekend off. I have the Monday as well.<br />Incredibly the weather finally took an almighty turn for the better and we had a great few days.<br />I nipped home on the Friday and took both of them over to St Mawes. I was able to get them into the castle for a visit while I carried on with my delivery. We then met up in the Rising Sun and had a really good catch up together.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UwZbcEOXLo/UbA4N57QT8I/AAAAAAAAAxU/SKrrYWyyfHw/s1600/945149_590087794974_1564525831_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3UwZbcEOXLo/UbA4N57QT8I/AAAAAAAAAxU/SKrrYWyyfHw/s640/945149_590087794974_1564525831_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The following day, Linda had to go up and put a full day in at the allotment. Its not been easy with this spring and she wanted to make the most of the good weather.<br />I did take the two of them down to the Coastwatch Station to see were I work. Really proud of being there and delighted with my Radio qualification I have just received. We then left there and I drove onto the King Harry and crossed over.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHnExKjKH4o/UbAw1N1QpHI/AAAAAAAAAvU/v9Abnw7BUHE/s1600/01-06-13+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vHnExKjKH4o/UbAw1N1QpHI/AAAAAAAAAvU/v9Abnw7BUHE/s640/01-06-13+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This made it easier to get down onto the Lizard and we had a walk down to the old lifeboat station. The good news down there is that its closed off at the moment because some Choughs are nesting in the old building. It's good to see them flourishing once more down here.<br />We had a look out across the bay at the rocks sticking up out of the sea...one of which is called 'MULVIN'. I still can't get over that or even find out why it is called that. Very odd.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U2BlUGlIrnE/UbAxb_bfUjI/AAAAAAAAAvk/jdozKd7E8aM/s1600/01-06-13+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U2BlUGlIrnE/UbAxb_bfUjI/AAAAAAAAAvk/jdozKd7E8aM/s640/01-06-13+010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />From here I took them both to St Michaels Mount. Although closed on a Saturday I thought we could have walked across. Sadly the tide was in and there are no boats on a Saturday when the National Trust bit is shut.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1Rde27sBEY/UbA4AM2c4dI/AAAAAAAAAw8/KvQnzzqzC0M/s1600/253385_590087480604_1979642042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J1Rde27sBEY/UbA4AM2c4dI/AAAAAAAAAw8/KvQnzzqzC0M/s640/253385_590087480604_1979642042_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;The girl in this picture was really pretty, but when she bent her head down like that to look at her phone she gave a perfect image of 'Cousin It'. <br />We didn't waste the time however and had a couple of pints in the pub in Marazion as we looked across. Parking was almost free as I paid my £4-20 in the machine; took my ticket; and then performed the old Mulvin trick of checking the 'change slot'. The machine doesn't give change but the slot is there in case a coin doesn't work and slips through. I found £2-20 inside it and was well pleased.<br />That evening we got the old BBQ out and had a barbie in the back garden. A wonderful meal if I may say so.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQtgJyKtGAA/UbA4TC-X1HI/AAAAAAAAAxk/qkmEpuBvgcw/s1600/581766_590087550464_1816176866_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQtgJyKtGAA/UbA4TC-X1HI/AAAAAAAAAxk/qkmEpuBvgcw/s640/581766_590087550464_1816176866_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sunday we drove up to Padstow and had a good old walk around up there. We even paddled in the sea. I led a small expedition of the four of us to a beach with some interesting caves I knew. I thought this would be interesting and fun. Two miles on and at the end of a caveless beach I finally admitted I may have gone to the wrong beach.<br />'Pardon me and my mistake!'<br />Even my apology didn't seem to carry much weight. I was forgiven though when we returned back to Padstow and I plied them all with Fish and Chips and a couple of beers. I wasn't so much forgiven for this magnanimous gesture...as for taking a full hit from some bloody seagull that decided to use me as a toilet. Charming.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rB5tTkWvICM/UbA4Q7rs98I/AAAAAAAAAxc/i9ZDhiz9eFs/s1600/417879_590087600364_1088639424_n+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rB5tTkWvICM/UbA4Q7rs98I/AAAAAAAAAxc/i9ZDhiz9eFs/s640/417879_590087600364_1088639424_n+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />All to soon it was Monday and the two of them had to return to London. I hated saying goodbye, but at least we know they will be down again at some point. We did have lunch in Mevagissey before they left and a little walk around as well so that was nice.<br />It was a lovely weekend though and we enjoyed ourselves very much.<br />The next week went well and I had fun at work. Good weather all week and a fairly easy week of it with the mail.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-33286723583485975002013-05-12T01:47:00.004-07:002013-06-05T23:02:37.958-07:00Chapter Seventy Two<span style="background-color: white;"></span>Hi there one and all. This will just be a very brief post as I am about to head off to the allotment with Linda. We have had some major issues with the computer and it ha taken several weeks to resolve things. Finally we are back up to speed and all seems to be working perfectly once again.<br />I now have the problem of whether I write my blog or get another couple of pieces ready for the newspaper before we go digging. I shall come down on the side of the newspaper and will write something on the blog this evening.<br />I have been writing two short pieces a week for the Western Morning News. I send them in to their 'Country Notebook' section. They have been printing both pieces each week and I am delighted. I write and send them in on a Sunday morning and they normally are published on the Thursday and Friday. They have a website now so you may be able to see the pieces on <span style="background-color: red;">westernmorningnews.co.uk&nbsp; </span><br />Big attempt now on showing you my computer knowledge. I have just successfully managed to edit post seventy one after the computer went berserk. I shall publish this one now and attempt to edit this and add more later.<br />If you are reading this and it ends in the next two lines...then come back to this post later and hopefully I will have added more.Fingers crossed.<br />Well thats sorted that out...I'm back. Still having problems with the computer but I am slowly getting there. Very mad about youtube though. I found a brilliant colour version of&nbsp; 'Have I the Right' by the Honeycombs. It was brilliant. Then some idiot discovered that the opening introduction was done by Jimmy Saville...so they have pulled the entire recording. I know the man was the worst type of individual imaginable...but you can't destroy every bit of the past he touched upon.<br />At the very least, could you not have airbrushed his ten second intro out, instead of the entire recording. Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, even Satan himself, are all still mentioned in history and it could be argued that they were just as wicked people. Its a funny world in the oddest sense.<br />Anyway...enough of all that. We have had a busy few weeks in the last little while. Our trip up country was a great success and we enjoyed ourselves hugely.<br />Dinner with Fiona and Lucy was a blast and we had fun catching up. On arrival Linda and I popped in to see Gerry and Tess. We had a birthday present for Gerry as the old chap was sixty the other month. It comes as a shock to think that'll be me in another fifteen months. Where did those days that stretched out before us, go to?<br />Anyway, we had a lovely couple of hours with them and then got to mums. We were staying for the rest of the week in a room at the place that mum lives in. Really nice room and we were central to everyone. Lucy and Fiona met up with us there before we went off to dinner. Woody joined us and we ate at the mexican place in Castle Street. Never eaten Mexican before but found it better than I thought. All too soon the evening flew by and we had to say our farewells. The only trouble with going back to Farnham...seeing everyone means you can only allocate a certain amount of time to them all.<br />Its never enough.<br />The following day we went across to see Katrina and Kevins new place in Fleet. They have a lovely home and all seems lovely for them. Both Linda and I were delighted that Oscar recognised us straight away and carried on calling us Grandpa and Grandma as though we had only seen him moments before. He and I had a fine game in the garden with the ball pond and a football. I don't know what the game was called but it wore me out.<br />We then spent the late afternoon and evening with Brenda and Chris. Lots of catching up again plus a chinese meal as well, very nice.<br />The following day was a busy day first thing with all sorts to catch up with. We pottered about at the shops and went hither and yon before going to visit Grahame and Julie. It was nice to relax with them both and settle in for the evening. Grahame has set up camera's in his bird boxes and we were able to watch the antics and going-ons in the nests.<br />Very interesting and a huge 'timewaster'. Great fun.<br />Saturday so us visiting Roxannes new place over at Liss. It is the first time her and Stephen have had a proper roof over their heads since they got together. It is a lovely place, right in the middle of the golf course, and I am sure they will be very happy there.<br />We then rushed back to mums to see Therese and Becky. It was good to see them and have a catch up. They will be down with us in a weeks time so that will be good.<br />Before we knew it, the final day had arrived and we had to pack up and leave. We spent a couple of hours with mum before heading off to dinner with Kevin, Katrina, Oscar, and Becky. We all met up in the carvery at Frimley. Very reasonable and good fun. Oscar sat on my chair with me for a large part of the time and we chatted away quite happily. It made my day.<br />Sadly once dinner was eaten we had to fly. The journey home took us just under five hours as we stopped for a while at the Exeter Services.<br />That was it...a brilliant catch up even though I missed so many of my friends. Even seeing the kids was only fleeting but I hope to see them during the next few months or so. Lucy is down with Jon in a couple of weeks and then Roxanne and Stephen a few weeks after that. We then hope to get a visit from Katrina and her gang a month or so after that and then a visit from Fiona and Woody before summer is over. We're both looking forward to that.<br />A busy old week followed for us both, with Linda travelling the length and breadth of the county and me doing a mixed bag of duties for the week. I was on Lemon Street, Monday, Friday, and Saturday, and on St Mawes for only the Tuesday and the Wednesday.<br />I have to confess that I enjoy Lemon Street very much and it was good to catch up with some of my old friends on the duty. Nice people and a nice duty as well. The only thing wrong with it is simple...its not St Mawes or Portscatho.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYkj5MJ-TBM/UY-wde9NCpI/AAAAAAAAAu0/69cn16xSOsM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EYkj5MJ-TBM/UY-wde9NCpI/AAAAAAAAAu0/69cn16xSOsM/s640/007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;This lovely old lady sailed into St Mawes the other day. I would have loved a ride on her if given the chance. It must be a great life travelling like that; she was gone a day later. <br />We had the election day on Thursday the 2cnd. Linda and I were the first two in to vote that morning. We both voted for the Independent chap and were pleased when he got in. However; my name was up on the board for all to see as a sponsor for the UKIP lady. She is my good friend, Anne and she asked me if I could sponsor her. In the interest of fairplay and choice it seemed only fair to do so. She did well.<br />The following day Therese and Becky arrived with Eliza in tow. So good to have them all down again and we were very glad to see them. For some reason I did not feel 100% and I don't know why. Just felt a little tired and rundown for some reason.<br />This made for a pretty quiet and sleepy weekend with all of us re-charging our batteries in our own way. We spent most of the weekend out in the garden and that was very pleasant. Therese and Becky managed to visit some of the markets they wanted to get to so that was good.<br />The bank holiday Monday dawned bright and clear and we had a pleasant morning together before they had to head off home. The garden now looks a picture and all is right with the place. The lawns are cut and the paths weeded. A very successful bank holiday for us all.<br />On the Tuesday back at work the weather was still really good and I found this 'block of flats' sitting across from my delivery. She to was gone the following morning ...but she did look magnificent. I know I shall never have a cruise anywhere; except perhaps a river cruise; but I did wish I was sailing away on her to other places.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vr8cC5Djtw/UY-wjvLvh3I/AAAAAAAAAvE/xnHjvcZiR7E/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vr8cC5Djtw/UY-wjvLvh3I/AAAAAAAAAvE/xnHjvcZiR7E/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>She dwarfed everything else in the place.<br />Back to work and now a complete change in the weather. What was all sunshine and blue skies has turned into grey clouds and a wind that would cut you in two. I had to help one of my customers back to her house the other day. Seriously, on top of an outside staircase at a block of flats I had to cling on to the bannister rail because I couldn't stay upright.<br />I was very pleased on Friday because I passed my NCI VHF Radio Test. It means I can now speak to other marine radio users without sounding like a complete idiot. I am still deeply involved in the training at the moment for coastwatch and I am learning a lot. This bit however, was one of the few bits were you have to take a written and practical test.<br />Here we are now on Sunday. Linda has just got the bedroom ready for Lucy and Jon when they come down at the end of the week. All looks comfy and cosy up there now. Linda has also been busy dashing around the house and garden finding things to do. As you all know...Linda's idea of a rest is to be very busy doing something. Me; I'm practically comatose in a chair with Clive Cussler.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3mX7E7a25g/UY-wBUy5IgI/AAAAAAAAAus/BIQDEzA1Qd0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3mX7E7a25g/UY-wBUy5IgI/AAAAAAAAAus/BIQDEzA1Qd0/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We did however both go up to the allotment this afternoon. Linda dug over another great chunk of soil...and I put up the bean poles...for the beans.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZQSutKfmpo/UY-wfhWD8cI/AAAAAAAAAu8/trhgH05kM6k/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vZQSutKfmpo/UY-wfhWD8cI/AAAAAAAAAu8/trhgH05kM6k/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp;He also serves who only does as he's told.<br />Those big poles are not the bean poles that I put up today. This is just to let you see what the allotment looks like. Today was to wet and windy to even bother taking a camera up. The bean poles that I put in today are positioned just to the right and below the hooped netting. <br />I'm in trouble at home now for upsetting the pheasants out in the garden. Linda caught me holding the roast chicken up in the air and showing it to the birds outside.<br />She thinks I'll give them 'mental issues'. Tee Hee.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp; Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-90186239973845299332013-04-24T00:10:00.000-07:002013-05-12T05:01:01.780-07:00Chapter Seventy OneIt seems a long time since Easter and here we are now at almost the end of April. In fact it is St Georges Day today although you wouldn't know it by the apathy towards it in this country. We celebrate St Patricks day more in England than we do St George.<br />Anyway...enough of all of that.<br />Firstof all..the bad back. Its amazing what an orthopaedic riser can achieve. The thing arrived the day after I wrote my last blog and the relief has been incredible. Not only can I now safely see out of the windscreen and side windows, but there is no more back pain either. <br />I did report the collapsed seat as did the driver before me. As a proper Health and Safety thing I had hoped it would be sorted out, but it was not to be. Instead I have fixed it myself and I have to admit...it was £40-00 well spent. I'm now sitting up four inches higher and can see the bonnet of the van; my back is now straight and not bent into a curve&nbsp;so the pain has gone; and I can get in and out of the vehicle without struggling.<br />Its knocked over thirty minutes excess time off the duty just on that alone. Incredible. I would reccommend the company (Ivybridge) to anybody.<br />The last few weeks have been very mixed with the weather, although predominately dry. There has been a lot of sunshine about but the wind has been very cold at times. We've even had a little bit of frost on the odd morning.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N3PZdPEKJc4/UXd8FtJ-ZeI/AAAAAAAAAtE/dAVmZClRI1Q/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N3PZdPEKJc4/UXd8FtJ-ZeI/AAAAAAAAAtE/dAVmZClRI1Q/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I couldn't resist taking this photograph. Its not every day an oil rig comes into Falmouth. It was quite a surprise looming out of the mist the other day.<br />This is the first year in ages were the ends of my fingers didn't split or crack during the winter. Instead it has happened in the last couple of weeks. They got so sore and painful that it hurt doing the most normal of things. I couldn't even type on the keyboard. Thankfully now, the prodidious use of vast amounts of vaseline on them has gpt my hands back in line.<br />All is going well with the NCI and I am enjoying myself hugely. Classes&nbsp;are a huge boost and I am learning a lot. It all backs up the tuition I am getting from my mentor (Bob),&nbsp;and I hope to be a fully operational Coast Watcher before this season ends. <br />I take a marine radio test in another few weeks time and&nbsp;<a href="mailto:I@m">I</a>'m looking forward to that&nbsp;as well. I already have the Phonetic Alphabet covered and am able to do that quite well. I practice by reading car number plates out loud...VF55KOV...Victor Foxtrot Fiver Fiver Kilo Oscar&nbsp;Victor. It all helps and I'm getting faster at it.<br />My poetry is going pretty good as well and I am enjoying writing some of that down. I wrote a piece about my dad a while ago and I was well pleased. The group liked it too so that was good. I am also getting a couple of 300 word pieces of prose into the local newspaper each week as well. I've been sending the pieces in to the Country Notebook section of the Western Morning News.<br />Linda is very busy with her work at the moment and is deeply involved in helping people with Altzheimers. She has a few plans about this which are getting her very excited. I will write more about that as things develop.<br />Talking of things developing...she is 'Digging for Victory' up at her allotment and very busy with all things horticultural. The garden looks brilliant and the allotment is beginning to take on a wonderful shape. We shall be eating home grown veggies fairly soon I should think.<br />Lucy gave Linda some odd coloured vegetables for a Christmas present. Things like PURPLE carrots and such like.We are looking forward to seeing these grow...and then eating them.<br />Add to this the mug that Fiona gave her which reads 'Head Gardener', and both the girls have contributed in one way or another towards Linda's gardening this year. We may let them try a purple carrot each.<br />Work is going on a plenty and I am still at St Mawes. I have just worked three weeks there without a day off and enjoyed every minute. It really is the best duty I could have ever been given down here. I am driving; I'm working with a nice group of people; and I'm beside the sea. Such a pity I couldn't have brought some of the gang down from Farnham...or some of&nbsp;my Bentley customers.<br />All of us new entrants have only been given a three month contract this time around instead of our usual six month one. Its a bit worrying.&nbsp; I shall continue to hope all will be well and shall just wait and see.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lNCBkd5pxFc/UXd7yAr4YKI/AAAAAAAAAs8/3EGBD70NnJU/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lNCBkd5pxFc/UXd7yAr4YKI/AAAAAAAAAs8/3EGBD70NnJU/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This flag was blowing proudly in the wind the other day. It is a cornish flag of St Pirran with a union flag in the upper corner. I have to admit that I like it.<br />We had a lovely walk the other weekend. I fancied doing the walk between Winnow and Lerryn. Lerryn was were I used to stay when I first came to Cornwall years ago. In our Donald Vage walking books he shows the walk, and there is even a photograph of Mr and Mrs Bennett who used to look after the place.<br />As usual the walk was very different and we enjoyed it very much. We even had a couple of pints in the Ship Inn before heading back.<br />One thing made me laugh the other day. I bent a couple of rules to help a customer out. Nothing drastic, but something that most staff would do. Certainly, it was morally right if not within the rules. Anyway...all done...no problem. <br />Then the one thing you hope never happens...the customer wrote to the management team to thank me for going the extra mile. <br />I know they meant it with the best of intentions; I know my managers accept I did it for the best of intentions; it is just unfortunate that the road to trouble is also paved with&nbsp;the best of&nbsp;intentions; so I had to get a telling-off.<br />I don't know who was more upset about it, or more embarassed...but I did feel very sorry for the poor line manager who had to tell me off. <br />Anyway...the world still turns.<br />We had a couple of visitors down to our neck of the woods during the last week and that was nice. Farnham posties popping in to say hi and sharing a meal.<br />First of all it was Gary Horne and his family. I've known Gary for over thirty years and it was good catching up and chatting about old times. Liz is lovely, (far to good for Gary ha ha),&nbsp;and she and Linda hit it off straight away. They also had the children with them and it was nice once again to have the sound of youngsters in the house. Todd is a smashing little chap and Francesca is a delight. They obviously take after their mum...<br />Our second visitor was Derek Snozwell. Just Derek had come down, and he was staying with an old pal of his for a few days. It was good to see the big guy. Lin and I took him up to Tregony and had a meal up there with him.<br />We have been without a telephone for a few days now and without signal for our mobiles, communications are patchy at best. It meant we knew Derek was coming but couldn't organise anything...hence the meal at the pub.<br />We had another meal at another pub this week as well.<br />All those weeks at the quiz nights across the road had won us a free meal with Gary and Jeanette, Matt and Larissa, and Brian. We all turned up last Wednesday and a good time was had by all. They are a smashing crowd and it was such a laugh. Great fun.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtFX4MT4-kA/UXeDA1JDeLI/AAAAAAAAAuI/w3AXPSpZkSM/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OtFX4MT4-kA/UXeDA1JDeLI/AAAAAAAAAuI/w3AXPSpZkSM/s640/032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the top of the maze</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This weekend we visited the Tregothnan Estate for their garden open weekend. They have a tea plantation there and is quite unique in Britain. I had no idea that tea bushes are from the same plant family as the Camellia.&nbsp;There are thousands of Camellia's growing in this neck of the woods so I suppose tea was a logical choice.</div>Matt and Brian both work on the estate and Larissa lives with Matt. They said to come up and it was well worth it. They even have a camellia maze up there...it looked beautiful with the flowers on it. We weren't allowed onto the plantation bit but they have a small section laid out to give you an idea of what a plantation looks like.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YriObSQzhVU/UXeC6GEtHvI/AAAAAAAAAuA/__00lAvwM28/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YriObSQzhVU/UXeC6GEtHvI/AAAAAAAAAuA/__00lAvwM28/s640/029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the tea plantation looks like on a tiny scale</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A fantastic day out and we enjoyed ourselves.<br />We are both off work for a week now. Linda is spending a couple of days on her allotment although we did both go to Truro on Monday first. We both had jobs to do and we also wanted to visit the Museum of Cornwall as well. <br />A fascinating museum and worth the visit.<br />Tuesday, Linda and I went beach combing on Carne Beach. Linda found driftwood for her model making and I cleared two huge bags of plastic bottles up.<br />The Poetree group had a small lunch on the day , and because I was off work&nbsp;I was able to go as well...great fun.<br />And now it is Wednesday and we are going up-country to see family and friends. We are looking forward to it. Tonight we are having dinner with my two girls...and I can't wait.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vT4eTmEIBpI/UXd8LS2YIbI/AAAAAAAAAtM/vtD2Yqnz-ys/s1600/28901_604910926189680_733234221_n%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vT4eTmEIBpI/UXd8LS2YIbI/AAAAAAAAAtM/vtD2Yqnz-ys/s640/28901_604910926189680_733234221_n%255B1%255D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is Fiona and Woody.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqSGZedCGXk/UXeCDi2FJWI/AAAAAAAAAtw/swAG3r36rOg/s1600/563451_604910929523013_2102608934_n%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CqSGZedCGXk/UXeCDi2FJWI/AAAAAAAAAtw/swAG3r36rOg/s640/563451_604910929523013_2102608934_n%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Lucy and Jon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-32215580339532333522013-03-31T02:21:00.002-07:002013-03-31T02:21:42.515-07:00Chapter Seventy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well here we are once more. Happy Easter to everyone out there. Its a cold and grey day today; totally unlike the gorgeous sunny and warm day yesterday. More on the last few days in a moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have been very lucky down here over the last fortnight with only one tiny snow shower which came to nothing. We have watched with astonishment the level of bad weather and snow storms which have affected the rest of the country.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last time I saw scenes like those was in the winter of 1962/1963 when I was a boy. It all looked incredibly beautiful until you realise that some of the lumps in the snow were peoples houses. One chap actually was pictured standing in six inches of snow... but under those six inches of snow...was his single decker bus. It looked like a flat field that he was standing in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I say, we have been incredibly lucky; little rain; no snow; just a biting wind and bitter cold in exposed areas. My car has had the luxury of being hidden safely away in a garage while I am using my mail van. Very handy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sadly there has been some trouble down here though. Some parts of the west country have suffered from heavy rains and a lady was killed in Looe when a landslide swept her house away. Another lady was tragically killed when her husband got out of the car to take pictures at the King Harry Ferry. He forgot to apply the hand brake and the car rolled down into the estuary. It is over thirty foot deep there and the car, with the old lady in it sank quickly. Poor soul. A sad old week down here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On a brighter note, our 'Poetree' group took part in the 'World Poetry Day' and we read out some of our work to a lovely audience at Roseland Parc. Great fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After several very easy days at work because of the problem of getting mail down here through the snow, the last few days have been quite busy on a 'catch up' basis. I have enjoyed myself immensely at work and really don't care how much mail I have to deliver or how long I am out for. Its been brilliant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good Friday offered something of a respite from work however and Linda and I set off in the morning to see and photograph some of the daffodil fields down on the Lizard. Sadly the weather was a little miserable, and what fields had anything left in them were barely worth stopping at for a picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nothing daunted I saw a roadsign saying we were only five miles from Hayle...so we went off to St Ives. It was good to get back and see the place. The conditions were quite bleak by this time but we enjoyed our walk around the place. The town was full of holiday makers but very few on the beach.&nbsp;﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ecmpTDpawrA/UVfv6xpL7fI/AAAAAAAAAsI/vmvOGcC5kYk/s1600/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ecmpTDpawrA/UVfv6xpL7fI/AAAAAAAAAsI/vmvOGcC5kYk/s640/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;As you can see from this photograph...the sand has filled up the beach area quite a lot. The wall to the right of the photo normally has sand about six feet lower than that...and I have never seen the sand that high behind the little chapel in the centre of the picture. The house on the left is normally ten foot higher than the beach. You could almost see through his window.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jEv2KzhrZjk/UVfwIugsHhI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/FHGu_ACeDR8/s1600/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jEv2KzhrZjk/UVfwIugsHhI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/FHGu_ACeDR8/s640/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;As you can see from the clothes that 'Eskimo Nell'...my mistake...Linda is wearing, it really was bitterly cold. Even I was in long trousers. The steps that Linda is standing on; and she is on the fourth step; are normally a flight of about ten steps. Further to the left the sand has actually drawn almost level with the quayside. It was a very impressive thing to see and I wish Fiona and Lucy could have been there. It would have surprised them as well.<br />Yesterday though, Easter Saturday, was a most amazing day. The amount of mail to deliver bordered on the insane. At St Mawes we are used to an average twelve trays of mail and four bags of packets between us. Heavy days can be as much as sixteen trays and six bags of packets. Today...we had twenty eight trays of mail, and so many packets and parcels that the bulk of our mail was brought out in a sherpa van on a special trip.<br />We got out on delivery two hours later than normal...and I didn't finish until 1700 that evening. Thankfully, the day was warm and sunny and I enjoyed myself very much.<br />There are two square rigged ships anchored off Falmouth at the moment; I saw 'Mercedes' come in the other day; and she is a beauty.<br />I got around to the castle on delivery and she was sailing back out for a day trip.<br /><br />﻿<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y72lVwlzXks/UVfwKLamf4I/AAAAAAAAAsY/wfepVDxUrUk/s1600/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y72lVwlzXks/UVfwKLamf4I/AAAAAAAAAsY/wfepVDxUrUk/s640/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+009.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />&nbsp;This is her sailing out. By chance the smaller sailing vessel was coming towards her and it made for a good picture. The one with the red sails always reminds me of a thames barge but I don't know if she is or not.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HGovfGkuNc/UVfwempMz7I/AAAAAAAAAsg/CysUIz09dsw/s1600/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9HGovfGkuNc/UVfwempMz7I/AAAAAAAAAsg/CysUIz09dsw/s640/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I was able to take these picture from the road as I was delivering the post. I have said it before and I will say it again...I am incredibly lucky to have the chance to do a duty at the seaside. I wanted this all my life. <br />She is a beautiful ship.<br />A little later I was down in the square delivering a couple of very large parcels to somebody. I stopped for a quick mouthful of coffee out of my flask and a sort out of the van. My delivery normally consists of two four foot long containers and one two foot container full of bundles of mail and packets. Today the trays were just full of bundles of letters. The packets were set in all around them on the floor of the van. It was so full and constantly needed sorting out as stuff shifted.<br />It was while I was setting in the next section that I looked down the square and saw the little boat sail into view. It hasn't come out&nbsp;that well and I can't seem to make it any bigger, but here she is.&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oYdEGYFkyj0/UVfwhgXHKHI/AAAAAAAAAso/BSxeboonwKE/s1600/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oYdEGYFkyj0/UVfwhgXHKHI/AAAAAAAAAso/BSxeboonwKE/s640/St+Ives+&amp;+Mawes+31-03-13+017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The down side to my day has been my back. The volume of mail was terrific, especially as it was full of very heavy catalogues. The seat has collapsed in the van and&nbsp;so I have bought myself a riser seat from an orthopeadic company to put in the van to raise me up. You will remember that I had an accident last year because I was unable to see out of the van properly.<br />Anyway; I only ordered the seat a day ago and it has not arrived yet. As it is I have used the collapsed seat for the last few months and it has been making my back sore.<br />I fear I ordered the seat a little later than I should have done...as yesterday the combination of excess mail, excess lifting, and bad sitting tipped my back over the edge.<br />It appears I have now aged enough to have a bad back...I've never had one before...and it hurts like hell!!!Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-18136649189006871782013-03-17T02:52:00.000-07:002013-03-17T02:52:30.316-07:00Chapter Sixty NineLinda is off to Maria's this morning to feed the animals and clean up a bit. This has given me the chance to sit down on my own and tackle the old blog once more.<br />Its been an amazing week as regards the weather. The sun has shone more often than not and it has been quite warm in sheltered places...but God help you if you are out in the wind. It has been blowing a vicious gale at times and it chills you right down to the bone. Couple that with rain or hailstones, and it is a torment devised&nbsp;to hurt.<br />I can only imagine what people must have thought yesterday as I walked around Harbour View at St Just. Twenty nine houses, so I leave the van and walk around with a bundle of mail and sometimes a mail bag slung around my neck as well.<br />Yesterday the weather had been mixed. One moment it would be bright and warm sunshine; moments later a black cloud would sweep across and it would rain for about five minutes before the sun came out again.<br />When I'm driving my van I never bother much with a heavy waterproof. I normally only wear the thing when I'm on 'walkabout'. I never do the zip up; simply put it on and just 'popper together' the top two poppers. I am covered then to the waist. Although my arms are in the sleeves I tend to wear it like a cape. By doing that I can hold the bundle of mail under the front of it to keep the letters dry. It may sound daft ...but it works.<br />I was walking along delivering, but keeping an anxious eye on the sky. A huge cloud coming across from the west was as angry and as black&nbsp;as any cloud I've ever seen. It got overhead...and then the heavens opened. Hail fell down in torrents and swept towards me. I saw the builders bolt for their vans, and watched two kids sprint into a house, and I, like countless other posties, pulled up my hood and kept going.<br />Then the pain of the hailstones stinging against my legs came into focus. It really hurt and felt I was being sandblasted. To compensate for my bare legs I crouched down&nbsp;a little&nbsp;in my oversized&nbsp;storm coat and carried on walking. I must have looked a&nbsp;bit like a postal Groucho Marks but it worked. Two minutes later, and to my total astonishment, the cloud moved on and the hailstones stopped. I straightened up and carried on walking more normally.<br />One of my older ladies on the other side of the road called out to me that she thought a Hobbit was doing the delivery today&nbsp;and then burst out laughing. Very nice I must say!!!<br />Last Tuesday was not a brilliant day though and I confess I got a little tetchy with Royal Mail. After a century of being allowed to change our own wheels&nbsp;if we should get a flat tyre...we have now been stopped from doing this. Its not so much Health and Safety; which I respect; but more 'fear of litigation'; and that I despise beyond measure.<br />Anyway...on pain of the full force of the conduct code we now have to get the RAC to change our wheels for us. We posties could not be more embarrassed.<br />It was almost&nbsp;three pm when I got a puncture in my mail van. Eight calls left and my tyre is like a pancake. In the normal course of events I would have changed it and been on my way in about twenty minutes. Not this time.<br />Ring the RAC.<br />Brilliant...no phone signal.<br />Can't walk to a farmhouse and ring from there because the RAC will want to ring you back on their phone. Besides, I doubt they would want you sitting in their house waiting. Imagine if they were going out.<br />Alternative...Risk rimming the tyre and ruining it by driving to a signal area.<br />Finally got a signal on the main road and pulled in beside the water tower.<br />Tyre&nbsp;now destroyed and I find I have no Number in this reserve van log book for the RAC.<br />Ring 118118 and get number. Ring number given, which wasn't Freephone, and watch money drain out of my mobile as I wait five minutes before finally speaking to someone.<br />RAC very helpful but can't promise me a mechanic for at least two to two and a half hours. But I am assured I am a priority because I have mail on board.<br />Frozen stiff now in a biting wind I get back in the van.&nbsp;Interior warm and then I&nbsp;remind myself that, for the first time in years&nbsp;I have forgotten both my flask and my book. <br />Boredom sets in and I fall asleep for an hour and a half.<br />I awoke frozen to the very core with my mobile ringing. It is a very kind lady from the RAC worrying about me, but delighted to tell me they have got somebody from Perranporth to come out. He will be with me&nbsp;very soon.<br />Really nice bloke, he was with me by half past five and had the tyre changed in fifteen minutes. I couldn't fault their service and&nbsp;I fully accepted that broken down vehicles on major roads...plus vehicles with small children in take priority over me. I'm not insensitive and I would not have had it any other way.<br />I finally finished my delivery at six pm.<br />I had no grievance with anything that happened that afternoon except for one thing.<br />If it had happened three weeks ago, before this new ruling came in, I could have done what posties have done since the PO started. I would have changed the wheel and been on my way with no extra cost to Royal Mail at all; there would have been no call on all these extra resources; and people would have had their mail on time.<br />I don't condemn Royal Mail, but I do condemn the society we live in today that allows and actively encourages people to sue someone at the drop of a hat. What a ridiculous afternoon to live through, because somebody, who wasn't born before I changed my first puncture, is deemed more qualified.<br />Ridiculous.<br />Gary next door is&nbsp;converting an old garage in his garden into a art&nbsp;studio. He is a talented man, especially with his art, and also very skilled as a handyman. I have been able to help him in putting the huge windows into place. Heavy old things but they are now all standing upright and making one wall of the studio. It looks fantastic. At least I feel like I have helped in some way.<br />Linda brought the guinea pigs into the house yesterday and let them have the run of the ground floor for an hour or so. They are great fun to watch and real time wasters for us both. Eventually they exhausted themselves and settled down for a rest. <br />They have a small sleeping nest thing each which they curl up in and rest up. All was quiet in the kitchen and I went out to check on them. Widget was curled up in hers and watching me from inside, but whiskey was not in his.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4_FrUSsUVQ/UUWRAgBiqfI/AAAAAAAAArk/f0Agao6Pe_U/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I4_FrUSsUVQ/UUWRAgBiqfI/AAAAAAAAArk/f0Agao6Pe_U/s640/003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>She then turned away from me and gazed over at Linda's coat which had just been chucked on the kitchen floor. She had left it there to grab and put on when she took them both back out to their hutch later.&nbsp;I looked around for him...and there he was...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xo-ANeO0-Jg/UUWRBNT9u2I/AAAAAAAAArw/IAkJqeng1fs/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xo-ANeO0-Jg/UUWRBNT9u2I/AAAAAAAAArw/IAkJqeng1fs/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>He obviously thought this was a better option than his own little nest and so he moved in.<br />They really are so funny to watch.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004571355307795010.post-34908440960511659562013-03-10T04:39:00.003-07:002013-03-10T04:39:57.550-07:00Chapter Sixty EightIt is Mother's Day today and&nbsp;our thoughts are with&nbsp;our mum's far away. Linda has had a couple of nice cards from Katrina and Roxanne...plus presents. She is really delighted.<br />Its been a busy old week but&nbsp;has gone by very quickly. We both had Tuesday off but poor old Linda had to go and visit the dentist for a last major working with her teeth. As that took care of the morning I didn't mind volunteering to do the walking job at Portscatho. Nice to get back there for the day.<br />My own round at St Mawes is really taking a hold on me and I'm enjoying it very much. On the whole this week the weather has been lovely and it has been a pleasure to be out on duty. It got so lovely and hot on Friday and Saturday that we actually had people out sunbathing in the sunshine. I grant you the people I found were in very sheltered spots and out of the wind, but even so.<br />Linda has been very busy in both the garden and on her allotment. The green house is now up and running as it should be with the guinea pigs living back out side in the garden&nbsp;again. They both seem quite happy to be back outside again and are making great inroads into the grass.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MhvDuUO7DhM/UTxnudtSADI/AAAAAAAAAq4/yxOPmYCKUEo/s1600/10-03-13+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MhvDuUO7DhM/UTxnudtSADI/AAAAAAAAAq4/yxOPmYCKUEo/s640/10-03-13+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I know you can't see them at the moment because the little perishers have decided to stay in the little house. It was raining at the time though.<br />I hope they can't see into the greenhouse because we have a small heater in there at the moment to take the chill off the cold nights. Although we have had two or three lovely warm sunny days this week the next few weeks are supposed to be very cold and bitter.<br />Linda has stocked up all sorts of plants and is bringing them on in the warmth at the moment. Katrina sent a bunch of flowers to Linda this week and they were left in the greenhouse. The florist described it as 'your lovely greenhouse', so she was impressed with it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lkm9rVgB138/UTxnuw1t58I/AAAAAAAAArE/mzGDMpREXL4/s1600/10-03-13+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lkm9rVgB138/UTxnuw1t58I/AAAAAAAAArE/mzGDMpREXL4/s640/10-03-13+005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I know it doesn't look like a lot is going on in there but it is really.<br />After the occasional high winds of this winter we now have our pear tree containing all the bird feeders. The feeder poles we were using both fell down this winter and we felt the tree is a little more stable.<br />Linda did give it a very hard pruning this year which it desperately needed. I am looking forward to seeing it in full leaf this year. Its a nice&nbsp;tree and very old. I don't know how it survives there considering the depth of soil under it. It can't be very deep at all.<br />It has become a great place for all the birds to congregate and feed from though. Sometimes the whole tree can be covered in all sorts of different varieties of birds. They are permanently hungry although we have seen them eating loads of wild stuff as well. I'm hoping that when the tree gets its leaves on it the birds will still be able to get in there and eat.<br />At the moment we have a couple of hawks who are using our garden as a 'fly through fast food outlet'. I'm hoping the birds will have a bit better chance of survival in the summer because of the leaves.&nbsp;&nbsp;Behind the pear tree is Linda's spring border. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sfT7wEJKig/UTxntR8VjZI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Et3xvQhMtWA/s1600/10-03-13+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sfT7wEJKig/UTxntR8VjZI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Et3xvQhMtWA/s640/10-03-13+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This border is what brought out her famous phrase last week. And to think it is me that worries about wether I'm losing my mind or not. When I got home it was obvious that Linda had been hard at work in the garden. She had rung me about an hour before to see what time I was getting back and also mentioned her work in the garden.<br />What she told me was..."Hiya Mully, I've dug over the lawn and mowed the border." It did confuse me for a moment but when&nbsp;I got home I was able to confirm she had done it the other way around. The lawn was neatly mowed and the border looking neat and tidy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2g_kAXW_poI/UTxntx9cZ5I/AAAAAAAAAqs/0L7zjxZE9Do/s1600/10-03-13+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2g_kAXW_poI/UTxntx9cZ5I/AAAAAAAAAqs/0L7zjxZE9Do/s640/10-03-13+003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;The two garden gnomes; Bayleaf and Digweed; were supposed to be out there beside the bird bath but they are in the house at the moment. With Linda wielding her spade and fork like a person possessed over there I feared for them. I had visions of finding them in pieces. She had already made them filthy by keep moving them while she was wearing her muddy gloves.<br />I rushed out and brought them into the house; cleaned them both up; and put them upstairs in my study room/ library. I think they are reading some of my books but I wont tell Linda. She already thinks I'm daft enough as it is.<br />I had some paperwork to do yesterday though and I did go out and sit in the sunshine to do it. Linda was once again hard at it in the green house. Seemingly, 'pricking out' was the name of the game yesterday. As for me...I needed to count up every address on my delivery and sort out my calls for our 'door to door' service.<br />Suffice to say it kept me busy for an hour or so before I settled down with my newspaper. Here is a picture of our little suntrap in the back garden.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6G7i2ptBibM/UTxnvI7VCSI/AAAAAAAAArQ/N2Qv2EfHX5o/s1600/10-03-13+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6G7i2ptBibM/UTxnvI7VCSI/AAAAAAAAArQ/N2Qv2EfHX5o/s640/10-03-13+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I know its not sunny at the moment, but it was yesterday. Its a nice little spot there and we use it when we can. Last Sunday was so hot and sunny that we ate our breakfast out there.<br />Well, thats about it for this week. I have written a couple of poems for 'Poetree' tomorrow and I have also sent a piece off to the local newspaper. I hope they print it.Liam and Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654932921611203763noreply@blogger.com0